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Home My WebLink About2005-06-20-COA-minMINUTES Council on Aging Special Meeting on SENIOR CENTER Monday, June 20, 2005 3;30 p,m. Attending; Betty Borghesani Marian Cohen, Chairperson Dan Fenn Don Chisholm Don Graham Paul Lapointe Leo McSweeney Jane Trudeau Lauren MacNeil, Director of Social Services Paul Lapointe chaired the meeting. All members had been sent in advance of the meeting; 1) Architectural and Siting Need Memo dated 11/8/2002 prepared by Heather Sweeney, 2) MCOA Senior Center Design Memo from Don Graham to COA Senior Center Siting Committee dated 10/30/2002. These documents summarized both the chronology of space needs sub - committees dating back to 1999, actual recommended space needs, square footage, and the experience of John Catlin in designing other Senior Centers, A discussion ensued regarding services seniors need now and future requirements, Lauren noted that providing social services to seniors, adult day care, and programs for younger and older seniors will remain important components of any future COA, Paul Lapointe said that any facilities evaluation of our present facilities includes not only maintenance requirements, but also program needs, Mill Street Adult Day Care Facility Don Chisholm noted that the Mill Street facility has two (2) acres and could be expanded to meet future needs, The homelike building and bucolic setting are considered to be a real advantage. Although the Program could be moved to Muzzey, if necessary, the present location was perceived to be superior, Lauren said that we have just renewed our lease for the Mill Sheet property for one year at the current rent, The new superintendent does not seem to have any other plans for the site, but wanted a one (1) year lease because he wants to negotiate a rent increase next year, All members agreed that the size of a future COA is partially dependent upon having a long -term commitment, fi Minutemen for the Mill Street site, Don Chisholm suggested that we might buy the site fi Minutemen and make the debt service equal to rent being paid, Facilities sub - committee It was agreed that Paul Lapointe will chair a facilities committee with Mark Barons and Leo McSweeney as members, The Committee will coordinate with Capital Expenditures regarding maintenance issues at the present site. There are issues as to who pays, FCOA, the Town, or the Condo Association, New COA Facility Lauren posed the question whethe we needed a new facility, A unanimous response of those present was "Yes," Dan Fenn noted that past experience shows that until we have a targeted site there would be no further progress toward a new Center. How Lauren also asked "how big" and the key question "where." Twenty (20,000) thousand square feet, (assuming Mill Street still site for Adult Day Care) one hundred twenty (120) parking spaces were numbers agreed upon by earlier study committees, Where DonChishohn suggested the lot presently used for recreation next door to the present Center, After much discussion a consensus was reached to research the possibility of siting a senior center at that site with the Recreation Committee and Town Counsel, Dan Fenn recalled that there were restrictions dating back to the conversion of Muzzey from school to housing, Jane Trudeau agreed to call Bill Lahey about legal restrictions. Don Chisholm will talk to Recreation. The parcel containing over an acre and would be adequate for parking and a two- story, 10,000 sq. foot building. A brief discussion of 20 Bedford Street, our second choice, ensued with Paul Lapointe to contact Bill Hadley about the space requirements of the DPW. Next meeting scheduled for July 14 at 3:30 p.m. Re pectf ully submitted, , J o Trudeau, Secretary