GREENFIELD — The town’s Human Rights Commission has voted unanimously to support the building of a new senior center as proposed by Mayor William Martin, citing inadequate space, lack of parking and health and safety concerns at the current facility.
The Town Council is expected to reconsider its senior center vote at its Wednesday evening meeting.
According to a release from the commission, its endorsement of the original $5.25 million project also extends to the amended $4.75 million amount considered by the Town Council at its last meeting. The commission recently held two public forums on the needs of seniors in the community and the need for a new senior center to replace the inadequate and inherently dangerous facility in the Weldon House.
The commission has found that the present senior center has inadequate space, a lack of necessary parking and ventilation, and growing mold and plastering problems posing health and safety concerns. Furthermore, there is no weather-protected waiting area for those seeking public transportation alternatives to access the senior center and a bare minimum of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to the release.
Additionally, the commission found a new senior center is critical to meeting the needs of seniors for vital social interaction, health and exercise.
“This has been a promise that we as a community have made to our seniors for more than a generation,” Human Rights Commission Chairman Lewis Metaxas said. “They have been patient. They have been supportive of our youth and other members and needs of our community. They, as elders and leaders of our community, have supported the building of a new high school for our younger generation.”
Metaxas added in the release that it is the belief of the commission that Greenfield should keep the promises it has made to its elders and urged Town Council to pass the request of the mayor, Council on Aging and Senior Center Building Committee for the construction of the new center.