Commission on Aging
Special Meeting
September 3, 2009
14 Riverside Road
PRESENT: Edward Rees, Glenna Rees, Karin Aurelia, Lenore Niedzielski, Norma Gray, Mary Ellen Lydem. EXCUSED: Barbara Wadleigh. ABSENT: Thomas Dwyer, James Bernardi, Anna Weidemann.
ALSO PRESENT: Marilyn Place, Director of Senior Services, Mary Kelley, Senior Services secretary, Ida Reiske, Senior Services assistant to the Director, Robert Sharpe and John Aurelia of the Senior Action Committee, one member of the public.
Discussion and Possible Action: Response to a letter from the First Selectman concerning the Parks and Recreation and Senior Center at Fairfield Hills
Mr. Rees stated that the Commission on Aging will make a decision tonight as to whether they wish to share the Community Center building at Fairfield Hills with Parks and Recreation or to request a stand alone building at Fairfield Hills for the Senior Center. He noted that the Commission on Aging had stated that it would decide whether to pursue the combined building after reviewing the architect’s plans. He said that when reviewed, these plans did not mention a swimming pool or additional classrooms for Parks and Recreation but that these are now in the plans as well as additional square footage totaling 44,000 for Parks and Recreation.
Mr. Rees stated that at a meeting in August attended by Mr. Dwyer of the Commission on Aging, Parks and Recreation Director Amy Mangold said that the Commission on Aging did not submit a request to the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for their requirements. However, Mrs. Place stated that the Commission did indeed submit a CIP request for $4,500,000 for the Community Center at Fairfield Hills (Attachment A to original minutes).
At a meeting on August 10 regarding the Community Center, Bob Mitchell, Chairman of the Building and Site Commission, stated that there are problems with the wetlands and elevation that would affect the square footage of the building making it smaller. It was apparent to the three Senior Services representatives in attendance that the Senior Center space was not going to be met with this downsizing. The proposed Community Center would either house Parks and Recreation and a swimming pool, or Parks and Recreation and the Senior Center but not a swimming pool. In order to accommodate Parks and Recreation, the Senior Center and the pool, the morgue would have to be demolished. The morgue is a higher elevation than the proposed building and Mr. Mitchell said that it would cost an additional $400,000 to adjust the
height.
Mrs. Place noted that a possible stand alone building is a building near the Reed School. Mrs. Niedzielski recommends that the Commission visit this building. The Commission will begin the September 21, 2009 regular meeting at 4:30 p.m., will then visit to this building and return to the Senior Center for the remainder of the meeting.
Mr. Rees noted that if the three season room is completed, the Senior Center could stay here for another couple of years.
Mrs. Lydem moved that the Commission on Aging vote to maintain a stand alone Senior Center at Fairfield Hills and to withdraw from the original proposal to combine with Parks and Recreation. Second by Mrs. Gray and unanimously carried.
Adjournment. Upon motion of Mrs. Aurelia, the meeting adjourned at 5:14 p.m.
Ann M. Mazur, Clerk
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