ASHFIELD — More than 40 people from Ashfield, Buckland and Shelburne attended the third and final public forum on potential sites for a new Senior Center on Monday, offering feedback and posing questions about costs, maintenance, demographics and environmental factors.
George Dole, representing Jones Whitsett Architects, gave an hour-long presentation at Ashfield Town Hall on sites being considered for the new Senior Center. The primary sites are the Buckland Police Station, the Mountain Lodge of Masons, the Mole Hollow Candle building and a Shelburne-owned lot adjacent to the Arms Academy.
Ashfield resident Helene Leue noted that the Buckland Police Station was originally intended as a satellite facility, and now is under consideration as a site for the new Senior Center. She wondered aloud about the potential for a satellite facility in Ashfield.
“Through our programs … we’re doing more in Ashfield,” said Sylvia Smith, chair of the Senior Center Expansion Committee, adding that as the population ages and interest grows, she expects that more Senior Center programming will take place in Ashfield.
In a later question, Leue asked for clarification about the projected capital costs for the three-town consortium.
Dole said that Ashfield, Buckland and Shelburne combined are expected to pay a total of $400,00 to $800,000 for capital costs.
The capital costs and future maintenance of the new center was a concern for some.
“I have concerns (about spending money) without clarity and without authority,” said David Newell, of Ashfield, adding that the Senior Center, “doesn’t have authority to incur debt.”
Smith said that an ownership model between the three towns is not currently in place, and agreed with Newell that there’s a possibility that special legislation may be needed for the eventual ownership model.
Smith added that although ownership models between Ashfield, Buckland and Shelburne were at the focus of public discussion in September, there had been no resolution to which the ownership model would prevail.
Ashfield resident Joanne Ostrowski asked who would maintain the building, to which Smith replied, “We’re working on figuring all the details out.”
Russ Nichols, of Shelburne, asked how the numbers for state funding were determined.
“We’re using estimates given to us by state legislators,” Smith said, adding that once a site is chosen, the numbers will be discussed again.
“The space is more than double. The operating costs are not,” noted Ashfield resident Carl Satterfield.
The new Senior Center is projected to be at least 8,200 square feet and have an operating budget of $282,300 in fiscal year 2024. For its current size and location, the estimated operating budget of the Senior Center in fiscal year 2024 is $188,846. The difference in the two projected budgets is just over $93,000.
Other questions bridged local events to the new Senior Center. With the local damage of Tropical Storm Irene in mind, Ashfield resident Tiertza-leah Schwartz asked about flooding, particularly for the Mole Hollow Candle building.
Dole said that all sites, even the ones closer to the river, are at a lower-than-perceived flooding risk, given the way the river flows.
Paula Consolo, of Buckland, noted how demographic changes in Franklin County have affected buildings, like constructing schools for lots of children that have since gone empty.
“I think it’s really, really important that it could be converted to a community center,” Consolo said of the new Senior Center.
Attendees were asked to fill out two surveys, one which ranks site preference and a longer, 18-question survey on aspects of each site, like parking.
Surveys may be returned to the Senior Center or mailed to Jones Whitsett Architects at 308 Main St., Greenfield, MA 01301. Although the Senior Center Expansion Committee will not look at the surveys — Jones Whitsett is in charge of collating the results — all surveys should be signed so the firm can count one survey per person. Surveys must be returned to the Senior Center or arrive at the firm before 3 p.m. on Dec. 2.
Surveys and the presentation can be found at Ashfield, Buckland and Shelburne town halls, and online at bit.ly/2CPdWa0.
Reach Maureen O’Reilly at moreilly@recorder.com or at 413-772-0261, ext. 280.
Senior Center by Melina Bourdeau on Scribd