Board Approves $24K Study of Senior Center Shuffle

The proposed Senior Center shuffle shuffled forward Monday evening, with the Board of Selectmen's approval of a $23,500 appropriation in funds for an architectural analysis.

Per recommendation of the Facilities Study Task Force, the study will provide the town with designs and preliminary construction costs as they relate to three options:

• Moving the Senior Center to the Board of Education space at Town Hall
• Moving the Senior Center to the former library at 35 Leroy Ave.
• Moving the board of Education to the former library at 35 Leroy Ave.

Where Selectmen agree that a rebuild or relocation of the Senior Center is necessary given the state of the building, the decision to move nearly $24,000 from contingency to fund an architectural study met mixed review.

Where Republicans said the analysis was integral to moving the project forward, Democrats termed the investment "backwards."

Without a better understanding of the programmatic needs of the Senior Center of the future, an architect's vision of what works best for said space is ineffective, said Selectman David Bayne.

"I think this is backwards. We need to look at what we want to do, and then get the architect in," said Bayne.

Selectman Callie Sullivan reiterated Bayne's concern and said she felt "uncomfortable" appropriating funds for an architect when other infrastructure projects, like sidewalks, need funding.

But First Selectman Dave Campbell said that the Senior Center fix can't wait too long; and where shovel won't meet the ground for another two to three years, it's hard to separate programmatic considerations from a study of its proposed box.

"I'm not about to say I know what a Senior Center looks like, and the architect is going to look at the space and show us the possibilities," said Campbell.

As the Task Force discovered in phase one, Campbell said, it's hard to envision a future "community center" without knowledge of what is architecturally and financially feasible—hence the study.

Task Force Chair Selectman Jayme Stevenson said that programmatic needs would undoubtedly factor into phase two.

"This can all be happening at the same time," sand Stevenson. "I'm concerned about timing and about making decisions to move forward."

Some decisions have already been made. The Town Charter does not call for bidding on professional services, and as such, Beinfield Architect PC, a South Norwalk firm that has worked extensively with area school construction and renovation, has already been selected.

"It's somebody I'm very familiar with," said Campbell.

Hoyt Street resident and architect Holly Schulz took to the podium. She said she was "shocked" that the board had not evaluated at least two design firms before making its selection.

"As a professional, I find that very disturbing," said Schulz.

The proposal to appropriate $23,500 from contingency for referral to the Board of Finance passed three to two. Campbell, Stevenson and Selectman Jerry Nielsen voted in favor; Bayne and Sullivan voted against.