$1 Million In Rec Center Funds Earns Final OK

By Kendra Bobowick

Just in time for the first day of spring this week, the Legislative Council made the final approval authorizing $1 million in bonded funds for the architectural and engineering services to produce plans and designs of a community/senior center.

The 11-1 council vote Wednesday was what Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman Ed Marks has wanted to hear for more than a year. In recent months as Mr Marks sought design funds through the town’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for a Parks and Recreation Department community center/senior center, the money has at times been whisked out of reach.

The problem? Seniors’ feelings about the partnership ran hot and cold, but at last, in recent weeks, the Commission on Aging voted to move forward with the recreation department in the $1 million design phase. Commission member LeReine Frampton is pleased funds are in hand, but upset with the one dissenting vote by council member Po Murray. “She’s is an advocate of letting people decide,” Ms Frampton stressed, and feels her vote against the funds would have taken away that right for people to support or decline the center at an eventual referendum. Is this a contradiction? In Ms Frampton’s eyes, “Yes,” she said.

But the overwhelming support from the full council pleased her. “This community center will benefit everybody,” she said, “seniors included.”

The last year has seen several recreation commission meetings where members discussed the importance of “getting the seniors on board,” and “bringing them to the table,” as Mr Marks often noted. The intentions to include seniors in the recreation department’s plans to build a community center had come from the previous Board of Selectmen, and then-first selectmen Herb Rosenthal. Earlier this year the current administration and First Selectmen Joe Borst moved the CIP request along. They bumped up the original $600,000 request for design fees to include an additional $400,000 to raze Litchfield House, where the future center will stand.

Seniors bristled. With nerves on edge, a group rallied and stated they did not want to be part of the combined-use facility. Weeks after the selectmen had approved funding, early February saw the plan scratched completely from the CIP.

Thinking his chances were dashed for beginning a community/senior center this year, Mr Marks quickly jumped ahead to the next CIP. He had said at a recent selectmen’s meeting, “I definitely want $600,000 for designs next year.” He also wanted some clear lines drawn regarding working with the seniors — or not. He had also said to the selectmen, “I am more concerned about direction in terms of how to move forward.” He had also used stronger words saying, “I don’t want Parks and Rec held hostage to seniors.”

He was prepared to request funds for Parks and Rec alone, but seniors chose to join the rec center plans. Ultimately the Commission on Aging members voted to be a part of the initial design process. In fact, a Senior Action Committee has formed to learn more about what the seniors’ portion of the facility could entail.