BUCKLAND – Ashfield Selectboard Chairman Thomas Carter has proposed that Ashfield, Buckland and Shelburne seek a state grant to help jump-start plans for a new senior center to be shared by the three towns.
The maximum allotment for an application by one community in the Community Compact “Efficiency and Regionalization” program is $100,000, but two or more communities applying together can receive up to $200,000.
He spoke of the benefits of more collaboration among the towns.
Carter also pointed out the success of a Vocational Education Ad Hoc Committee – formed by residents from Ashfield, Plainfield, Hawley and Charlemont – for a regional transportation solution for sending students to the Franklin County Technical School or to Smith Vocational High School. Because none of these towns are part of a vocational school district, they must pay for their own school bus transportation. By sharing school bus transportation, this multi-town committee has saved its towns at least $225,000 over the last few years, he said.
Buckland selectmen said they liked the idea, but Town Administrator Andrea Llama questioned whether the project would get the grant without a site to build on.
Carter said the three towns’ councils on aging have spent four or five years researching sites for a centrally located and larger senior center. Carter said such a grant might be enough buy a site for a senior center.
Rather than a single town ownership of the senior center, Carter believed it would be best if the center were co-owned by all three towns, through a senior center board.
Buckland Selectboard Chairwoman Dena Willmore suggested the Senior Center Foundation could own the building, since it would be raising the money.