HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-07-05-CCTF-min Meeting Minutes
Community Center Task Force
Meeting July 5, 2011 Meeting Time/ 7 30 p m. / Town Hall
Date: Location Room G-15
Members in Laura Hussong, Chair Liaisons in Chris Ammer, Library
Attendance: Lisah Rhodes Attendance: Michelle Ciccolo, Planning
Betty Borghesam Gail Flowers, HSvc
Sophia Ho, Stephanie Lawrence, HSvc
Tim Dugan Nancy Adler, LWV
Jim Goell Hank Manz, BofSelectmen
Absent: Florence Koplow Guest: CarolAnn Bottino
The meeting began with presentations
Charlotte Rodgers, Director of Human Services for Lexington.
Muzzey is not Just a senior center, it also houses the Human Services Department which services
youth, family and veterans as well as seniors They work with police, firle and health
departments Trends an increase in dementia in senior population with associated increasing
stress on the caregivers, increasing requests for financial assistance, an increase in domestic
violence calls demographics are changing.
Senior Center sees 100-150 people coming daily For a fitness class, 40-50 people come
3x/week for the class, it has been filled to capacity for the last 2 years Pre-retirement seminar
was very successful Seniors must be looked at on a continuum, must reframe the way they
deliver services to all groups Traditional service delivery model of our center is outdated.
It is missing. collaboration with other departments in town, ability to do intergenerational
programming (Muzzey Center deed stipulates programs must only be for adultssemors), culture
of community, private spaces, later afternoon, evening and weekend hours
Would like to do or have outdoor programming for recreation and relaxation, have large fitness
areas, community meeting space, evening and weekend hours, computer labs and instructions
Community Center would allow easier collaboration, shared resources (especially with
Recreation Dept)to lead and fill spaces for classes, shared kitchen, natural and typical gathering
space for people Times used most heavily now. 8 30am-1 30pm, quiet from 3-4 30
Meeting Minutes
Community Center Task Force
Karen Simmons, Director of Recreation for Lexington
Budget is $2 million, none from tax levy; recreation is an enterprise fund (100% of money comes
from user fees) covering staff(5 full-time, 175 seasonal part-time, 255 volunteers who give back
5,400 hours to the community), aquatics, neighborhood and Center parks, tennis courts and
athletic fields on school grounds, camps, programs, supplies, facilities, a portion of debt service
on Lincoln Park.
Missing dedicated indoor space during the day for programs Schools can override Rec
programs on any given day, building rehab moves Town facilities around and bumps or
eliminates Rec programs Programs such as adult fitness, preschool, after school indoor, passive
and active recreation for those with physical, cognitive and social challenges, therapeutic and
non-therapeutic arts and crafts, ceramics, painting, fitness and exercise centers Overall, missing
intergenerational offerings which bring true sense of community, and share (don't duplicate)
resources and talent within a community
Would like to do lack of consistent program space limits variety of programs they can offer
Need space for teens gym, kitchen, game room, lounge Computer training. Dedicated space
would allow preschool programming space could be used all day through school year and for
camp in summer
Community center would allow more effective partnering with Human Services, Police, Health
Dept and could serve a wider range of ages and provide a wider range of programs Could do
more programs like FunFEST (FREE joint Recreation, Police, Human Services, program at
tennis courts, families come with picnic dinner for games, music, swim, and fun activities), not
just outside in the summer CC would eliminate duplication of resources, and a central location
would give a sense of community More fitness, ping pong, pool, kitchen area and teen space,
community meeting space for dances, teen music or Chinese New Year, for example More
programming for people with developmental delays Could have a therapeutic recreation staff
person, storage for materials It would be shared space that has all players at the table, open and
accessible to all.
After the presentations, the committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the June 14,
2011 meeting, and to a corrected version of the June 28, 2011 minutes
The meeting adjourned at 9 10 PM. The next meeting of the CCTF is scheduled for July 19th at
7 30pm, in the Legion room Room G 15 of Town Cary Hall.
Respectfully submitted by Laura Hussong