Task Force Finale Brings Influential Recommendation

Facilities Study Task Force Chair and Selectman Jayme Stevenson presented the committee's final, phase-one report on the proposed Senior Center shuffle to the Board of Selectmen Monday evening.

The presentation marked the final step in eight weeks of concentrated and considered study, marked by an influential recommendation urging the resolution of the disposition of 35 Leroy Ave. with regards to affordable housing.

"We hope our analysis will serve as the basis for an action plan supported by the entire Board of Selectmen and not become yet another study on the shelf," said Stevenson.

The study has already moved the board to action. Just moments after Stevenson's presentation, the Board of Selectmen cancelled the Option to Lease at 35 Leroy Ave. in an arguably historic three to two vote.

First Selectman Dave Campbell appointed the Task Force just eight weeks ago, and charged the ten-man committee with the challenge of gauging the feasibility of his proposition to rearrange town-owned facilities in the hopes of bettering the Senior Center.

Put simply, Campbell's three-phase shuffle, amended to include recent affordable housing plans, looks like this:

1. Move the Board of Education to the former library at 35 Leroy Ave.
2. Move the Senior Center to the Board of Education space at Town Hall
3. Knock down the Senior Center on Edgerton Street, and develop 20 senior affordable housing units

The formal recommendation of the Task Force as to the Senior Center's relocation is multi-prong.

Where the Task Force agrees that the Senior Center building on Edgerton Street is in no fit state for long-term use, they say that two alternative locations for the program—the Town Hall and the former library at 35 Leroy Ave—warrant further consideration.

"Both recommended scenarios are consistent with the current Board of Selectmen priorities and the 2006 Town Plan of Conservation & Development," said Stevenson.

Outlining the merits and demerits of each scenario is a pros and cons analysis dubbed "The Matrix."

Absent a detailed analysis on costs, timing and the programmatic needs of the "Darien Senior Center of the future," Stevenson said the Task Force couldn't recommend one scenario over the other but agree something has should be done—and soon.

"As the Resource Documents Appendix to our report clearly shows … we have "studied" this property long enough," said Stevenson. "The time for action is now."

Watch darien.patch.com for the full story on the board's vote to cancel the Option to Lease at 35 Leroy Ave.