Senior Center - Transportation Center Appropriation

Back in March, we had a request come before the Council for $60,000 to pay for architectural design work related to the new Transportation Center to be built in the Lower Millyard. Specifically, the request was to do design work for planned space that the Town will be leasing within the Transportation Center. The building will be developed and owned by the Merrimack Valley Regional Transportation Authority; the Town will be 'building out' the 2nd floor of the building for use as a new Senior Center. The space will also host other Town human service employees, such as Veteran's agent, Council on Aging, Youth Services. This would mean that most of the current offices in the Town Hall Annex and the Ordway Building would be relocated.

At our March 25th Finance Committee meeting, I raised a few questions about this appropriation request. I was less concerned about the specific request of $60K for design work as I was about the overall implications for our 'Municipal Campus' and the various building the Town uses for office space currently. The leasing of space in the Transportation Center will set in motion a chain of events about our facilities and it is extremely important that we have a solid, cost-effective and affordable plan in place before we start the dominoes in motion.

I wholeheartedly agree that the Ordway building is very inadequate to meet the needs of Seniors in our community. Adapted almost 30 years ago as the Senior Center, it is not in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements---if any facility in our Town should be in compliance, it would be the Senior Center. More than 1/2 the building is inaccessible to people with mobility challenges. The building is about 130 years old.

However, if the Town Hall Annex and Ordway buildings are vacated, what plan is in place for them? Will we surplus the property and sell it? For what? Commercial development? Affordable housing? Condos? And what of the 5 School Street property on the far side? If the sale of this property would be used to offset costs, do we know what they might bring in this slumped property market? How does this fit in with the Town's Master Plan? What is the net impact on our budget (cost of 'new' facilities, revenue from surplussed property, taking properties on/off the tax rolls)? These properties--along with Town Hall and our public safety departments--occupy a key location in Town. Much care needs to be taken, lest we unthinkingly waste these valuable assets (even in their marginal state of value as office property).

I know that many questions have been raised about the prospect of various facilities--the DPW shed, the Library, Town Hall itself. I have many questions about this important puzzle. It is important that we do this right and with prudence. I do not oppose rethinking where and how we configure Town services but I will not be able to support additional requests related to this or other facilities without much more detail and opportunity to think through our options. I was unable to attend the April 8th Council meeting where this first domino was set in motion and the $60K approved, but I would not have been in a position to support it.

Click HERE to view the Mayor's April 8th presentation on this request.