The town of Deerfield hastily hosted an open house on April 11 to tour the town offices as a potential site for the Senior Center. While we appreciate the effort to explore available options, this site had been ruled out early on in this lengthy process because the costs were deemed prohibitive. The Town Hall presents many challenges, including limited parking, inadequate bathroom and kitchen facilities, lack of access to a regular bus route and asbestos beneath the floor, among other concerns.
Deerfield engaged experts to review needs, renovations and costs to bring the Town Hall into Senior Center standards. Why are those results being disregarded now? It is being suggested that merely painting, cleaning and attention to the ramp will ready the Town Hall for the seniors, and that other needed repairs can be completed piecemeal over years instead of in advance. But won’t more repairs be needed as time further challenges the building and costs escalate? And how timely will those repairs be made and to what level of disruption for the Senior Center to continue to function on a day-to-day basis? How safe will the environment be for seniors with repairs underway as the center attempts to hold events? We do not want history to repeat itself.
The Senior Center was located in the 1888 Building until it was condemned because repairs were lacking and the building deteriorated.
At one point, there was discussion about renovating that building and adding an exterior elevator so the Senior Center could remain there; however, that option was not pursued. Then the seniors were put under a tent until the center was moved to the church hall that was only available for 12 hours a week. Its current three-town arrangement involves multiple locations.
Now the town offices will be moving out of the Town Hall and into the fully renovated 1888 Building, including a beautiful addition, thanks to funding that was provided through a grant. Some now say the Town Hall is an appropriate option for the Senior Center and needed repairs that have been established can be spread out over years.
Seniors do not have years to wait. We have waited long enough. We want a Senior Center that serves us with dignity now and helps us to thrive independently for the remainder of our years. The 112 Amherst Road recommendation in Sunderland for the future location for our Senior Center also includes all repairs and general building maintenance in the lease.
Given that the Town Hall was deemed too costly to repair for town office use by their own 2020 study, it may be helpful to carefully consider whether it can meet the needs of the South County Senior Center with only minimum improvements. We hope this information contributes to a thoughtful and thorough discussion by voters.
Maryann Sadoski is a resident of South Deerfield.