Senior Center Committee Meeting
Held at the Council on Aging, 5 Broad Street, Salem
Meeting Minutes – 5-22-07
Chairman Veno calls the meeting to order at 6:35pm. All members of the committee are present with the exception of Mayor Driscoll.
The chair calls for reports of working groups.
Pat Curtain, reporting for the Public Input working group, says that the committee discussed a desire to get a survey out to the public, not more than 12-15 questions.
Councillor Joan Lovely indicates that she will type a format up and get to the committee by next meeting. The committee would like to get the survey out by the middle of June get it out with the hope of getting it back by the 1st of July.
They hope to print and distribute 2,000 copies. Doug Bollen of Park and Rec will print it if we provide the paper. It can be simple, but does define needs of people vis-à-vis a new facility. The big thing is getting it together and getting it out.
Paul Lanzikos felt that the survey would get wide range of input. In order to get more specific nuances, we should also hold 4 or 5 focus groups. Suggestions included 2 focus groups of current users of the current facility, 3 focus groups for those who do not use the current facility (1 for those 70+, 1 for baby boomers, and 1 mixed group). The focus groups could be between 75 and 90 minutes, and would have a structured script. Paul, as a neutral non-resident member of the committee, offered to facilitate. The committee would like to talk at the next meeting about format, and how to get volunteers to participate. This effort will add to information gathered in the survey.
Teasie Riley-Goggin asked a question about who gets survey.
Paul Lanzikos says that the survey would gather broad based input, and the focus group will get answers to specific questions, such as priorities for programming. The hope is to get the survey out through a variety of vehicles, including the Salem Gazette and Senior Power.
Councillor Joan Lovely says that perhaps the census boxes the City Clerk uses could also be used for this, and indicated she would talk to clerk about this.
Paul Lanzikos said that it would also be translated into Spanish and distributed through the Salem Family Health Center on Congress Street.
Councillor Matt Veno provided a report on programming/use committee. The committee agreed that the old plans, for both Webb Street and St. Joseph’s, should be reviewed.
The committee agreed on three principles for use of the new facility: (1) the first and top priority for use of the building will be activities for seniors, at whatever day and time is most convenient; these activities will have first priority in scheduling use of the facility; (2) the new building should have individual, district spaces for activities that are best conducted separate from other, and (3) there is a very strong desire to get input from seniors – those who use the current facility and those who do not – on activities that they would like to see in the new facility, and that we’ll need to work with public input working group on this.
The groups also expressed a need for adequate, appropriate space and facilities for clinical services such as a podiatrist, and a nice big function space/multi-purpose room.
Teasie Riley-Goggin said that other issues that were raised about current use of current facility will be brought to the Council on Aging.
Barbara Cleary, reporting for the Site Analysis workgroup, indicates that while they are waiting for input from other work groups, they wanted to come up with a shorter list. The work group discussed a number of site characteristics idea (see attached draft for discussion sheet).
Other issues raised included the following questions:
- How important is traffic?
- How important is it to be in the downtown?
- What other characteristics does site need?
The workgroup started by looking at city owned properties, recognizing that the price would be better, but that they also recognized that many properties (parks, etc) are used by other groups. For each property they discussed restrictions that they knew about, such has status as wetlands, use as a popular playground such as Forest River Park, or whether the site was clearly too small.
Barbara Cleary continued, saying that the committee agreed that Fort Lee deserves a closer look. Mack Park is also worth looking at, although the committee indicated that we need info from solicitor on possible restrictions.
Pat Curtain indicated that at the last meeting of the Park and Recreation Commission, he received a communication from city solicitor in this regard, in which she indicated that they are going on the previous court case relative to a proposed school building for Mack Park, and indicated in the letter that this would not be a proper site for this type of center. Mr. Curtain said that he’d get the letter to all members of the committee.
Barbara Cleary continued, indicating that the workgroup decided not to include Camp Naumkeag, suggesting that it would be politically difficult as it is used a lot by the public, that it’s a special place for many people, and “the hew and cry would be tremendous.”
Pat Curtain said that Camp Naumkeag is not designated park land, and while it might be difficult, the site may prove to be better than other alternatives. Councillor Matt Veno mentions that there is currently an order before the City Council to designate it as park land.
Barbara Cleary continued, saying that we should also look at the Almy’s lot, that while there are problems, it is worth a look. The Willows Soccer field should also be looked at.
The committee also considered Winter Island, but agreed that there are complications, including the need to verify “reversionary right” of federal agency that funded renovations in the past, and the fact that the City does not own the road to Winter Island.
The Broad Street lot that has the existing senior center has the benefit of being city owned. The Szetela Lane site, even though its status is unclear, ought to be kept on the list for consideration. The committee will get a list together that we can look at.
Beyond city-owned parcels, the working group also brainstormed a list of other vacant/underutilized parcels, but didn’t do any analysis. Those sites included the following:
- 28 Goodhue Street and others along the North River
- The old Salem News building
- St. Peter’s School
- The First National parking lot behind Walgreens, on Dodge Street
- Parcels on Franklin St
- Various parcels on Jefferson Avenue and Canal Street
Under broader discussion on all possible sites, John Walsh said that Palmers Cove was dismissed, as there is little or no green space in that neighborhood, and they need it and that it’s not fair to take it away. Also, during bad weather there’s flooding in basements in that area.
Tony Salvo indicates that that is a beautiful location. He also recommends another space, the soccer field at the Willows, which is flat land, and easy to build on, and the existing soccer field can go over to Palmer Cove.
Pat Curtain says that if you take the baseball field from PC, it leaves other groups that current use it, which include 5 leagues, without a field.
Doug Bollen indicates that Salem State has indicated that it won’t be able to accommodate all current uses at Palmer Cove at its new field.
Pat Curtain suggests an expansive city owned space on Gallows Hill.
Barbara Cleary says that the workgroup did not put it on the list given neighborhood opposition to past school proposal for this site, which was very galvanized.
Pat Curtain then recognized the sacred nature to parks, and suggested that in this discussion we have to carefully weigh pros and cons. We could be here forever trying to find a site. This type of center blends with use of parks, and that this is the point where we discuss all possibilities.
John Walsh suggested a possibility of land near the High School, where the auto tech building is, that we could find some room if we move the tennis courts.
Paul Lanzikos says that site questions such as these are ideal for focus groups.
John Walsh says that it might be helpful to narrow down the list, and do a picture story on each as part of the focus group.
Paul Lanzikos says that the focus group, in this regard, will only work well if you’re down to the final list, a real, concrete final list.
Tony Salvo talks about a letter he receive from Jim Hosman about land owned by National Grid off of Highland Avenue, in back of high school.
Paul Lanzikos says that in regards to Mack Park, we should invite the solicitor to have a discussion this, to engage her in discussion as to how we might make this work.
Barbara Clearly asked if there is a deed restriction on Mack Park.
Pat Curtain says that the restriction is that it must be used for “a park purpose.”
Chair Matt Veno moves the meeting on to Old/New Business, to discuss the proposed Mission Statement. After some discussion, Paul Lanzikos moves for adoption as presented, which is approved unanimously by the committee.
Under New Business, John Walsh asks that the Committee pick a date for seniors to come attend a meeting perhaps during the day, which is seconded by Teasie Riley-Goggin. Paul Lanzikos suggests that this be around lunch time to get good attendance. Under discussion, it is agreed that Doug Bollen can pick a date, and work with the Public Input working group to make this happen. Paul Lanzikos suggests that we wait until we’ve had the tabulation of the initial survey results, saying that if we get it too early, there will be nothing for them to respond to. Doug suggests doing for one of our July meetings.
Paul Lanzikos says that perhaps we can do it on the cookout day, July 17th.
The motion is unanimously approved.
Chair Veno moves to the meeting to the Public Comment section.
Nancy Olbrick of 107 Bridge St
- Not sure of legality of Mack Park, if it’s city owned, make sure you have a clean title, a deeded title
- You may have to petition land court, through perhaps adverse possession or a claim
- No matter what you do, get an attorney that understands realty law, or a land court examiner to do the legal for you, so that you don’t have a problem down the road
- Judging from the Mack Park discussion, you need a deed, and to get the land surveyed
- Some deeds are at Essex Institute
Barbara Cleary says that this is a good point, which we can add that to discussion on site analysis.
Joan Lovely says that the previous Mack Park court case went to SJC, so I’m sure they looked at this, perhaps we can find out more through the court decision.
Through discussion, it is agreed that the next meeting of the Committee will be held at 6pm for working groups, and 7:00 for the full committee.
Joan Lovely moves to adjourn, which is unanimously approved at 8:46pm.
| 
