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Citizen pushes purchasing building for senior center

By Jonathan L'Ecuyer
Staff Writer
Published: August 20, 2008

ROCKPORT — Former selectman candidate Christopher Lewis intends to ask the fall Town Meeting to amend an article on the warrant so that the town would acquire the Granite Savings Bank building for use as a senior center, rather than for "general municipal purposes."

A similar motion to amend the article was brought by Selectman Ellen Canavan earlier this month at a selectmen's meeting, but died after failing to receive a second.

Lewis informed the Board of Selectmen of his intent during the public comment period at Tuesday's meeting, adding "a number of people" had asked him to do so.

Council on Aging officials were disappointed by the selectmen's version of the article, which is Article I on the warrant. They had repeatedly urged the board to acquire the centrally located building for use as a new senior center.

The Building Study Committee has pushed the town-owned, but partly structurally deficient, Community House as the most viable option for a senior center. The Council on Aging now uses a moderately-sized room in the High School Apartment complex as a senior center, but has repeatedly requested a space it would not have to share with other groups.

Lewis said the availability of sizeable grants hinges on seniors receiving a building they can call their own.

Lewis said a representative for the state's Community Development Block Grant Program informed him there is a grant for up to $800,000 available to any town where more than 51 percent of the elderly, defined as those people 62 or older, are low and moderate income. Slightly more than 60 percent of Rockport's seniors have low and moderate incomes, which would qualify the town for the grant, Lewis said.

"A crucial point to be noted is that this grant is only available for a building that is dedicated for seniors' use," Lewis said. "This grant would not be available for the refurbishment of the Community House, if as the selectmen intend, the seniors are to share it with others."

Based on Building Study Committee Chairman and local architect Jack Campbell's estimated cost of $180-per-square-foot to renovate the bank building, it would cost roughly $866,000 for the 4,816-square-foot structure.

Lewis said if the town applied for and received the $800,000 grant, he was confident the town could raise the additional $66,000 necessary for the job.

Selectman Armand Aparo and Town Administrator Michael Racicot, both citing out-of-town professional planner Carolyn Britt, said other grants are available for senior centers that share a building.

Phil Hailer, a spokesman for the state's Department of Housing and Community Development, said while he couldn't comment on other grants, the $800,000 Community Development Block Grant, which is federally funded, is only available to those towns where the building is dedicated solely for senior use.

The board, however, refused to budge Tuesday and signed the fall Town Meeting warrant keeping Article I, which does not include a price offer from the bank, fully intact. A monetary amount is not needed for an article to get on the warrant, but is needed when a motion is made on such an article at Town Meeting.

Two sources close to the negotiations confirmed recently that the bank has made an offer.

Aparo said yesterday he was confident voters would see a price in time for the Town Meeting vote on Monday, Sept. 8.

"We are still negotiating that price and (Selectman) Charles Clark will be the individual negotiating that price," Aparo said, yesterday. "I'm very sure we'll have a price to offer citizens."

Aparo reiterated Tuesday that he didn't second a motion offered by Canavan at their last meeting because he believes it is up to the voters to decide.

"At our last meeting, a colleague offered a similar amendment that I didn't second because I believe Rockport citizens can make their own choice," Aparo said Tuesday. "It's the only appropriate way to move this issue forward."

However, Canavan said Aparo's logic doesn't add up.

"The people can't decide unless you ask them," she said yesterday, "Aparo has it backwards; if they just vote to buy the building, then it will be up to the board to determine who will go into the building and that is what I hope would not happen. His rationale and his actions don't match."

The bank building, located at 26 Broadway, next door to Town Hall, has been seen by some as a viable spot for a senior center and by others, for other municipal uses, such as additional office space for Town Hall.

Racicot added the idea that seniors would only occupy the second floor of a renovated Community House is false. The plans currently call for a large function space on the second floor, as well as an arts and crafts room; television and yoga room; Council on Aging office and a room for a nurse, all on the second level. The seniors would also have access to a kitchen and dining room located on the first floor.

Plans by Campbell also include the addition of a porch off the building's left side as well as three parking spaces, including one handicapped spot.

Racicot said some fire evacuation concerns are unwarranted because the building would be brought up to modern codes with the addition of a sprinkler system.

Aparo said he wants to hear input on both viable senior center locations from several other town boards and committees including the Building Study Committee and Finance Committee.

Before stepping down from the podium Tuesday, Lewis did ask the board that in the event Town Meeting agreed to purchase the bank for the seniors, selectmen would make a commitment to complete an application for a community development block grant for senior center refurbishment.

Essex Town Administrator Brendhan Zubricki applied for a community block grant in 2006 and received $676,000 for a new senior center. The town now boasts a new 3,000-square-foot building. Zubricki told Lewis he would be "delighted to help (Racicot) prepare a grant proposal."

The deadline for application for the next grant round is expected to be Feb. 13, 2009.

Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.

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