SENIOR CENTER STUDY COMMITTEE - FY’02 REPORT

 

To the Board of Selectmen:

 

            The Study Committee’s five sub-committees:  Building, Financial, Operations, Programs, and Public Relations reviewed the relevant issues concerning the limitations of the current space: an adequate heating/cooling system, private space for the Social Worker, severe overcrowding of programs, modernization of the commercial kitchen and bathrooms.  We  met with groups who use the center, held open houses, established a presence in the July 4th parade, made a slide show to show overcrowding of Senior Activities and opened an account with the Town to receive donations.

 

            The committee has held monthly meetings and successfully advocated the May 2002 Town Meeting for $12,000.00 for a feasibility study of the Center for its mechanical and structural integrity and soundness, as well as its practicality as a senior center. The study was put out to bid, 10 proposals were narrowed to three finalists, and John Catlin was finally chosen.

 

            The committee devised detailed listing of the present use of the Senior Center, listing programs, classes, numbers of persons per class, floor space requirements.

 

            The brick building was constructed as a school in 1916 with the four front classrooms, and was increased in size to four more classrooms and an auditorium in 1924.  Pleasantview was opened as a Senior Center in 1980, sharing space with the Recreation Department and Kelko Credit Union.

 

                                                                           Respectfully,

                                                                                                                                               

Donald Thompson, Jr., Chair                                                    Carol K. Johnston, Past Chair

Muriel Andwood, Publicity                                                        Bob Hildreth, Vice Chairman

John S. Coughlan, Operations/Staffing                                       Richard A. Clark, Clerk, Treasurer

Walter F. LaBroad, Building                                                     Matthew Fitt

Michael Przybylowicz, Planning         Carl Ohlin, Finances                         Leon Osborne

Betty St. Peter                                   Jennie Wood, Treasurer                  William Powell

Rosalind Clark, ex-officio                  Board of Selectmen, Susan Grimaldi,  Kim Wiezbicki, & Gary DeLisle, ex-officio