Senior Community Center Feasibility

Summary

The Senior/Community Center Feasibility Committee (Pat Stockwell, Bruce Menon, Kathleen Dery) has proposed buying and renovating the former Dresser Hill furniture store property as a combined senior/community center. Estimated cost is ~$1.8M for purchase plus ~$11.6M for renovation, ~$12.5–14M total, with an estimated ~$251/household annual tax impact. The committee is pushing for a ballot vote.

Status

Proposal presented to the Select Board on August 25, 2026, generating substantive pushback (Karen on cost justification and messaging; Mike on land valuation) and support (David Singer advocating for a ballot vote, citing survey data with small-sample caveats — roughly 100 and 35 respondents). No ballot date set in the material available.

Update: the proposal shifted after August 25 from buying and renovating the former furniture building to a $500K design study for new construction on Masonic Home Road (Article 5, October 19 Special Town Meeting), supported by the Select Board and Finance Committee on September 22. Info session October 15.

Log

2026-10-13 — 2026-10-13 - Select Board Meeting

Info session on the Senior Community Center announced for October 15 at 4:30 pm at the Senior Center.

2026-09-22 — 2026-09-22 - Select Board Meeting

Select Board and Finance Committee voted to support Article 5 (appropriating $500,000 from free cash for design of a new senior community center on Masonic Home Road, with police parking expansion), wording amended from "senior center" to "senior community center". Contentious: one member objected that no building size or cost was set, others said to let Town Meeting decide; at least one reluctant vote. The committee chair said the committee now supports either Masonic Home Road or Dresser Hill.

2026-09-16 — 2026-09-16 - Finance Committee Meeting

The Select Board now favored new construction on the Masonic Home Road site next to the police station (renovation and new build both ~$11.2M). A $500K design/feasibility study was requested as its own warrant article (Article 5) for the October 19 town meeting, replacing the $75K police parking-lot engineering item. Finance Committee voted 6-0 by roll call to support it; one member voiced affordability reservations. Debt exclusion not expected before ~May 2028.

2026-09-08 — 2026-09-08 - Select Board Meeting

Committee still recommended full purchase and renovation of the former furniture building (price cut from $1.8M to $1.6M, tax value $1.3M, 3.68 acres, seller to demolish the white building; ~$13.6-14M project, one town meeting plus a May debt exclusion). Board members questioned the price changes and asked about town-owned land by the police station/Overlook (possible reverter). No vote; the town administrator was to research the town-owned site and talk to Overlook, with a warrant decision on September 22.

2026-08-25 — 2026-08-25 - Select Board Meeting

Feasibility committee members Pat Stockwell, Bruce Menon, and Kathleen Dery presented a proposal to buy and renovate the former Dresser Hill furniture store property (~$1.8M purchase + $11.6M renovation, ~$12.5–14M total, ~$251/household tax impact). Karen pushed back on cost justification and messaging; Mike questioned the land valuation; David Singer advocated strongly for putting it to a ballot vote, citing survey data (small-sample caveats — ~100 and ~35 respondents).

2026-08-01 (approx.) — 2026-03-18 - Life at the Senior Center

Interview segment with seniors and staff at the current senior center, not a formal committee meeting. Feasibility committee member Don Kopaki and several attendees (Mary Kopaki, Vicki, Susan Crockett) independently called for a single-floor building with dedicated (not shared) activity rooms, better parking/accessibility, and more storage; staff (Shaunie, Emily Reyes) echoed the space complaint. No cost figures or ballot timeline discussed — informal input feeding the ongoing feasibility push rather than a committee action.