Senior Center Study Committee 2004

To the Board of Selectmen,

            Our dedicated Senior Study Committee has had a very exciting year, striving to overcome each challenge as it arose.   We have held 60 meetings since we were appointed in May 2001.  Our main goal this year was to review the needs of our senior community both present and in the future, as well as how the Pleasantview Center meets these needs and will in the future.

            After 8 public forums, attended by 258 persons, our conclusion was for a new building on a new site. Pleasantview Renovation plans fell short of our needs for several reasons including costs, ranging from 2.5 million to 5.5 million, along with the human cost of closing the center for 1.5 to 2 years, loss of Federal grants and finding a place to relocate with rental and moving costs.

            We surveyed 14 groups who currently use the center to discover their (modest) needs: more space, a level wooden floor, confidential space, better heat and air conditioning.

We began our fundraising, receiving $5,915 from 14 groups or individuals.

            We tried to keep the public informed with numerous newspaper articles and an ELCAT program.  We returned $8,000 to the Town to study the Heritage Site after our finding showed it was not feasible to build there.

We considered 26 sites, 7 owned by the Town and 19 private properties, when our Recreation Commission pointed out the Town already owned a jewel of a site, Pineknoll (which has a South entrance on Parker Street).    We hope for a warrant article at 2005 Town Meeting to request funds for schematics for a new senior/community center on the Pineknoll site. We are pleased to be combining our efforts with that of the Long Range Planning Committee to consider how we fit into the best interests of the entire Town, remembering our concern for those at the twilight of life, the elders, and those at the dawn of life, the children.  Serving on that committee is Don Thompson from the Study Committee and Leon Osborne, representing the Council on Aging. 

Respectfully Submitted,

Senior Center Study Committee:

Donald Thompson, Jr. Chairman                                            Bob Hildreth, Vice Chairman

Richard Clark, Secretary                                                         Jennie Wood, Treasurer

Muriel Andwood, Publicity/Program                                     Walt LaBroad, Building

Leon Osborne, Technical Presentation                                               Carol Johnston, Building/ Finance

John Coughlan, Operations/Staffing                                      Betty St. Peter, Program

William Powell, Finance                                                         Carl Ohlin, Finance

Michael Pryzbylowicz, Planning         Board                                      Rosalind Clark, COA, ex-officio

Board of Selectmen:  Gary DeLisle, John Claffey, and James Driscoll