GREENFIELD — The Senior Center Building Committee has begun reviewing concerns the Town Council has raised about a proposed new Senior Center.
The committee met this week to begin discussing an alternative plan for the new building before Town Council reconsiders whether to fund the project during its meeting next month.
The council last week withheld $5.4 million for the Senior Center, but a motion to reconsider was filed by Council Vice President Isaac Mass, meaning councilors will vote again during their April meeting. Mayor William Martin said to make the proposal more appealing, the committee has to look at the three primary areas councilors were concerned about — the building’s cost, purpose and its impact on taxpayers.
One of the main objections to the current plan was the lack of multi-use options, and it was suggested the Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans’ Services share space in the building. Martin said neither that group nor any other group in town he’s reached out to have expressed interest in sharing space in the building at this time.
“I was kind of disappointed that it somehow got portrayed that there is no community use in this building. It was always a community/senior center,” he said. “I think we’re on a path of multi-use by virtue of senior center programs and services and any other community needs the town may have in the same space.”
He added one councilor expressed interest in adding condominiums on top of the building, but Martin said the idea is in no way aligned with the schedule the committee is on now. However, he said adding housing on the rear of the lot would be a possibility at any time in the future.
Another concern was the impact the project would have on the tax rate.
Finance Director Marjorie Lane Kelly said it wouldn’t impact the tax rate.
“This kind of a project is what we try to shoehorn into the debt,” she said. “It won’t affect the tax rate, it just has to fit into the budget.”
As far as the cost of the building, Martin suggested the committee explore whether any features of the plan could be added at a later time.
Ed Berlin, member of the Library Board of Trustees, suggested the committee look into moving the senior center into the current library building once a new library is built next door. He said the large open space downstairs could be made handicapped accessible and there’s room for offices upstairs.
“It’s a wonderful, wonderful building to be in,” he said, pointing out its proximity to the new library and the YMCA.
Although Berlin said the Library Building Committee’s architect thinks the idea is viable, others in the room questioned whether the building could be made completely accessible and whether there would be enough parking.
Project Manager Daniel Pallotta of P3 Inc. in Norwell said it will be five or six years before the new library opens and a link between the two buildings doesn’t really exist except as a feel-good measure, but said he thinks the idea should still be looked into.
“It might work, it’s a good idea. All ideas should be explored,” he said. “We did look at renovation. We wanted to save the Davis Street School but it just doesn’t work, it’s too costly under Mass. General Laws.”
Several members of the committee will meet with Martin, Pallotta, Kelly and the designer early next week to hash out a potential alternative plan, which they’ll bring before the full committee next Thursday.