Senior Center Funds Spur Fiery Debate

It was a thing of the past that proved the sticking point in what would have been a swift discussion and vote on the Board of Selectmen's Capital Expenditures Plan for the future. Prior to Monday's debate, the seven-year financial roadmap featured a near $2.85 million allocation to a Senior Center fix—a best-guess cost that some Selectmen said sent mixed messages as to the town's priorities.

"There are no capital projects for 2010-11 that require bonding. The other years involve some—speculation, guessing," said Town Administrative Officer Karl Kilduff.

One such guess, a near $2.85 million expenditure ($2.1 million in bonding) set for 2011-12 and allocated to the Senior Center, came under scrutiny at Monday's Board of Selectmen meeting, initiating an expense discussion on Campbell's proposed municipal building shuffle that has yet to be had.

Where the Facilities Study Task Force, a ten-member group chaired by Selectman Jayme Stevenson, has reached the conclusion that the Senior Center is in dire need of some sort of a fix, related expenses have been little discussed.

Acting First Selectman David Bayne took issue with the line item. He said that where dollars are really neither here nor there on a long-term capital plan, which by definition, requires a certain amount of guessing, the document reflects policy decisions. The allocation of funds to the Senior Center, he said, wrongly suggests the project is fully endorsed by the Board of Selectmen and "on par" with other, outstanding town projects.

"This sends a policy message that this is on the same level as projects that have already gone the full road to the RTM," said Bayne. "If we want to push it out to 2015-16—maybe."

Kilduff reiterated that absent the board's direction, the number is simply a "best guess."

It was the absence in "board direction" that Selectman Callie Sullivan, also member of the Task Force, called to question.

"I think the question is: how did we get to this juncture without having this conversation?" she said. "I don't know how, without our first selectman, we can say, 'This is what we should be doing in terms of our capital projects.'"

First Selectman David Campbell is out of town this week.

But Stevenson said Sullivan's claim neglected to consider the hard work of the Task Force. She said that the Senior Center is in dire need of "something," and that should be reflected in the capital plan.

"We have a task force that's very hard at work. I have trouble taking it off the list, because the Senior Center needs something. It would be irresponsible to not keep it on here," Stevenson said.

Selectman Jerry Nielsen reiterated what Campbell has said since he first proposed his Senior Center-35 Leroy-Town Hall shuffle:

"We're making a decision that we're going to do something with the Senior Center, and we're going to probably spend some money. We have to put some number on it."

The number, $2.85 million, is relatively small in comparison to the cost of previously entertained Senior Center projects. Kilduff said two years ago, the previous Board of Selectmen, of which Bayne and Sullivan were a part, allocated over $6 million to a Senior Center fix on the long-term Capital Plan.

"Why don't we add that number back to reflect historic precedent?" said Stevenson.

Her remark was met with laughs. Board of Finance Chair Murry Stegelmann, sitting in the audience, grabbed his throat and feigned choking.

Before voting on the 2010-2016 Capital Expenditures Plan, the Board of Selectmen reached an agreement to spread the $2.85 million Senior Center funds over a number of fiscal years.

"Is everybody happy?" said Bayne.

"Are you happy?" said Stevenson.