2026-09-14 - Council on Aging

00:00I call the meeting to order five.

00:06I pledge algiance to the flag of the

00:08United States of America and to the

00:11republic for which it stands, one nation

00:14under God, indivisible, with liberty and

00:18justice for all.

00:23>> And also, [music] please note that this

00:25this meeting is being recorded by Westro

00:27TV. Has

00:34anyone had time to review the July 20

00:37minutes?

00:41>> I do know there was one change.

00:43>> Oh, Diane. Oh,

00:45>> open forum. You have open for open form

00:48after the

00:48>> I asked on the way in. They weren't

00:50here.

00:52I'm asking again. Is there an open

00:53forum? Is there?

00:56>> No. Okay. They're just observing.

01:02>> Okay. The July 20 minutes

01:06where it came to the voting. It should

01:09be six to 0.

01:11>> Yes. I changed six of Oh, you changed

01:14it.

01:14>> Okay.

01:16>> I sent the updated copy a little while

01:18ago, but it should have been in

01:19everybody's mailbox. That was

01:20>> That's the only thing I had.

01:21>> Okay.

01:22>> Anybody else have any changes? July

01:2420th.

01:26Motion to accept as distributed.

01:28>> Second. Okay.

01:32>> Everyone in favor?

01:33>> I

01:34>> I

01:36so voted.

01:39Okay.

01:41Next we have um Chandra's senior center

01:44report.

01:45>> Sure. Uh so in the month of July we

01:48provided 419 total rides which was a 33

01:52ride increase over the month of June. Uh

01:56July had an average daily attendance of

01:5860.5 people. August had an average daily

02:00attendance of 58.76 people. Uh in July

02:05we had 247.25

02:07volunteer hours worked. And in August we

02:10had 229.57

02:12volunteer hours worked. Um, the senior

02:15center had 399 individuals visit 1,474

02:21times in the month of July and we had

02:24427 individuals visit 1,449

02:28times in the month of August.

02:34So, we finished our Tuesday dinners.

02:36Those ended the last Tuesday evening in

02:39the month of August. We had a total of

02:41447 people join us for our Tuesday

02:44evening dinners throughout the summer.

02:46We had a luau, square dancing, the Red

02:49Sox, music, and more. Um, and we are

02:52really appreciate our volunteers who

02:54made it possible. I would like to give

02:56uh special credit to Daisy Wong and

02:58Patty Miguel. Really, we could not have

03:01done it without the two of them. They

03:03help us tremendously in the kitchen on

03:05those Tuesday evenings.

03:08Um, our Asian outreach group visited

03:10Delaney's Antique Clocks in Townsen.

03:13They stopped for lunch and ice cream in

03:15July and then they visited Greenh Hill

03:18Park and had lunch in August. Our

03:21September trip later this month is to

03:24Chinatown in Boston and it is already

03:26completely full with a pretty long wait

03:28list. Uh, which means we'll probably

03:30revisit and do that trip again in the

03:32near future.

03:34Uh October 21st and 22nd, Katherine John

03:37and I will be attending the

03:38Massachusetts Councils on Aging annual

03:40conference being held this year in

03:42Southbridge, Massachusetts. Uh we will

03:45meet with peers from the state, take

03:47part in lectures, trainings, and

03:48continuing education opportunities.

03:51Uh, starting at the end of September,

03:54running through May, I will be attending

03:55the Massachusetts Municipal

03:57Association's Leadership Academy every

03:58Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 400 pm. Uh, this

04:02is a certificate program taught by

04:04municipal leaders throughout the state

04:06of Massachusetts. Fine.

04:10>> Sorry, I'm going kind of speed round so

04:11we can get to the community center. So,

04:14moving through pretty quickly. Uh,

04:16tomorrow we have our mid-autumn

04:19festival, which is what Tammy is in the

04:21lobby working on decorations for now.

04:23She's got some folks coming to make

04:24lanterns for that. Our bagels with the

04:28board that is scheduled for tomorrow has

04:30been moved to the community center. Uh,

04:33that was just because we had a double

04:35booking in the big room. So, uh, John

04:38will be sending out a text blast later

04:40today and then first thing tomorrow

04:42morning for anyone that signed up to let

04:44them know it will be the same. We will

04:46bring over the bagels and the orange

04:48juice and and it'll be for all intents

04:50and purposes the same. It will just be

04:52on the second floor of the community

04:53room tomorrow.

04:54>> He did send out the message, but it just

04:56didn't say where. So, that's what I was

04:57going to ask you. on the second floor.

04:59>> I'll make sure he sends out like a more

05:01specific uh

05:04>> uh we are doing a scam lunch and learn

05:06with the DA's office, the district

05:08attorney's office. I am doing a WRTA

05:11transportation info session. Uh both of

05:13those are on the 17th. Wanita is doing

05:16another fall paper craft on the 23rd. Um

05:20we have the community center project

05:22engagement at the Forbes on the 21st. We

05:25have another one tonight. I didn't put

05:27that in there because I was thinking the

05:29meeting was today. So tonight at 6:30 at

05:32the Forbes great hall. So that is the

05:35across the street from town hall there

05:37will there will be a community center

05:39project engagement meeting that is open

05:42to the public. I encourage everyone you

05:44know in town to participate. We are

05:47doing a paint your own pumpkin on

05:50October 6th. The Registry of Deeds is

05:53coming to do a lunch and learn about the

05:55probate court on October 6th. Uh we have

05:58a retirement planning lunch and learn

06:00with the financial adviser happening on

06:02October 8th. And the West Bro Senior

06:05Center supporters are they are hosting

06:07their Halloween lunchon on October 29th.

06:11Um the West Bro Senior Center supporters

06:15fair will be on November 14th, which is

06:18a Saturday. It's the week of Veterans

06:20Day and that will be uh there'll be more

06:22information as it gets closer, but just

06:24so you can mark your calendars, it will

06:26be on the 14th of November.

06:29>> I also heard that the Hund Town Chorus

06:32is going to be meeting their rehearsals

06:35here.

06:35>> They do that after hours.

06:37>> Yeah.

06:38>> Yes.

06:38>> It's on Mondays, I guess, through

06:40December.

06:41>> Yes. Um, we actually have this month in

06:44particular, I think there's maybe four

06:47nights that someone is not using this

06:49building in the whole month. Um, we are

06:52pretty booked between the Boy Scouts,

06:53the Girl Scouts, uh, there's two Girl

06:55Scout troops, AA, the community chorus,

06:58square dancing, um,

07:02occasionally the garden club, the

07:03historical society. Yes, it's very busy

07:05after hours here.

07:08>> So, I have a question. um where are we

07:10in terms of the whole sort of dementia

07:12training and that kind of issue.

07:14>> I so I am still working on it. I haven't

07:17had as much time to just do directly

07:20that um but I am hoping that over the

07:23winter when as programming stuff slows

07:25down a little bit and people are out

07:26less I'll have a lot more time to focus

07:28on that more frequently.

07:30>> All right. Thank you.

07:31>> Um and that last page is just uh our

07:34WRTA rides by month. Um, you will notice

07:38that as the weather begins to get worse,

07:40we will see a decrease in ridership.

07:42That's normal. More people are staying

07:44home. We have more cancellations for

07:46weather. People are nervous about going

07:48to exercise classes and all of that when

07:50the sidewalks are icy. Um, but July of

07:542026 has been our uh most heavily used

07:58month so far. Uh, which is great news.

08:04All right. Any other questions?

08:09Have a motion to accept the director's

08:11report.

08:12>> Accept director's report. Second.

08:14>> Second.

08:16Everyone in favor?

08:17>> I.

08:18>> So voting.

08:24Kim, do you have an update on community

08:26center or

08:27>> these guys?

08:29>> The architects do. That's

08:31>> the arm.

08:36No, he's right.

08:36>> Oh, he's right over there.

08:38>> Oh, right there.

08:38>> That's okay. Okay. Um, do you have

08:41anything else?

08:43>> So, I

08:46Let me just Well, hang on just let's

08:48give them another minute or so before we

08:50get there. I can talk a little bit more

08:52extensively. I also I can mention

08:55November 10th we are doing our Veterans

08:58Day dinner. Um, and that is going to be

09:01free for a veteran plus one guest. Uh it

09:04doesn't have to be a spouse or

09:06relationship partner. It can be a child

09:08or a friend or a neighbor. Um we I was

09:13able to get a a professionally trained

09:16chef to donate his time. So he will be

09:19cooking for free and the supporters have

09:22helped offset the cost of the food. Um

09:25which is really wonderful. I'm working

09:27right now with WPI to have their ROC

09:30come and present the colors at this

09:32dinner. Um, and I'm hoping uh I think in

09:36years past, last year I I I can't

09:39remember if we did a lunch or a

09:40breakfast. I think we did a lunch. I'm

09:42hoping that by making it dinner, it's a

09:44little bit more of a formal occasion.

09:46Um, I have already spread the word to

09:50I've mentioned it to John Gallinoff who

09:52is involved in the Legion, BFW, and the

09:56uh Veterans Advisory Council. Um, and we

09:59do have a flyer, so it's a little bit

10:01far away still, but we'll work on

10:03getting that out there better so that

10:06folks know about it, um, and are able to

10:08participate. I am

10:11very grateful that the senior center

10:13supporters are helping fund and help us

10:16offset some of that cost. Um,

10:20>> so what's the date again?

10:21>> It's going to be the 10th, Tuesday,

10:23November 10th, which is the day before

10:25Veterans Day.

10:26>> Okay.

10:28Um, and it was I made this before last

10:31week or I probably would have included

10:32some photos. We also had a bus um and

10:36helped add some of the advertising for

10:38the 9/11 memorial that happened uh this

10:41past Friday. I have not attended in

10:45years past, but they had a really great

10:47crowd this past week. Um, it was I don't

10:50know somewhere around 60 to 80 people I

10:53would say in attendance which was really

10:55great. Um, and I I'm

10:59happy that we were able to be involved

11:01in some way and and getting some people

11:03out there. [snorts]

11:04Um,

11:18>> okay. All right. No, we're good.

11:21[laughter]

11:22I was like running.

11:27Um, so we do have today um we wanted to

11:32provide the council an update on where

11:34we stand with planning for the community

11:37center. I think some of you did attend

11:40the session that we held um a couple

11:43weeks ago. Now we are holding there was

11:45a community first of three community

11:47engagement sessions was held here. We

11:50have one tonight as Kendra mentioned at

11:526:30 and one next Monday night at 6:30

11:56um downtown in the Forbes Municipal

11:58Building. But um more opportunity for

12:01folks to come provide feedback here

12:04where plans planning stands today. Um I

12:07think as you many of you have seen it's

12:10an iterative process fee that we got

12:12when we did some um group work uh two

12:17almost two years ago now Joel was it has

12:20it been I think that feedback was

12:22incorporated. So what we are looking for

12:25before plans are finalized later this

12:28calendar year

12:30um looking for some final tweaks and we

12:33are talking about largely tweaks to the

12:36current design. Um we expect at this

12:40point to finalize those plans this fall

12:43and then the um architect will have a

12:47set of documents ready to go out to bid

12:50early in calendar year 2027 which will

12:54get us a firm number to take to town

12:57meeting in March of 2027. So I think one

13:01of the things that you'll hear today I

13:02don't want to steal too much of Joel's

13:03thunder. Um there are a few things that

13:06we are considering

13:09um putting out to bid is what we call

13:11alternates. So you have your base bid

13:14which is everything that you will will

13:17be quoted and we would move forward with

13:19and then there are things that if we're

13:21not sure that we will have the budget to

13:24support we can add them on to the base

13:27bid is alternates and then provided that

13:30we have enough funding you would take

13:32the alternate alternates in the order in

13:35which they were bid. So Joel will touch

13:37on that. Um, I think one of the things

13:40we certainly want the council's

13:41feedback. Uh, we've had a lot of

13:43feedback from the community. I think we

13:45want the council's feedback. You have a

13:47little bit different lens in terms of

13:49how the building is used and you've seen

13:51the programming. You've seen some of the

13:54um issues or limitations of the space

13:59and the way things are laid out here. So

14:02I think the to the extent that you have

14:04that sort of insider knowledge and can

14:07offer feedback using [clears throat]

14:09that lens um I think that's helpful. But

14:12again Joel has a complete presentation

14:15so I don't want to steal any of his

14:16thunder. Um certainly have time for

14:19questions about the process after Joel

14:22goes through his presentation as well.

14:27with that

14:29>> sque because if I stand here the folks

14:32here can't come in front of the set but

14:37um I know just mentioned that some of

14:40you have seen this but I'm still going

14:41to go through the whole presentation

14:43just and in addition to the outreach

14:46we've been to two of the farmers markets

14:49which was not without incident we have

14:51two pages of notes that we got and we've

14:54incorporated a lot of those comments

14:56ments as well as from um staff here into

15:00the plan. So you'll you'll see a few

15:02minor changes.

15:05I I'll start with the plans and what's

15:07what the whole building is the colored

15:10area and the gray area. The gray area is

15:13what we call the back side. This is the

15:15parking lot faces out to town.

15:18[clears throat] This is the back side of

15:21the building. You you drive around down

15:23here and there's a large parking lot in

15:26the back side. There's a loading dock

15:28and there's quite a bit happening in the

15:31alternates in this gray area that that

15:33I'll get into. But to start, I'll focus

15:37on the the colored area.

15:40You come in the senior center entry

15:43actually in the same entry that was

15:45there when it was a

15:48department retail store. And the reason

15:50is is that the site slopes a little bit

15:52across the building and that entry

15:55happens to be perfectly accessible to

15:57those that might need help getting into

16:00the building. Right when you get in

16:03there there happens to be a double door

16:05so when you open the doors you don't

16:07feel that rush of cold air coming into

16:09the building in the winter time. The

16:11reception desk is on your right and

16:15[clears throat] the my senior center

16:17where you sign in is on the left. That's

16:20purposely done. So if you have an

16:21inquiry, you're not being blocked by

16:24someone that's standing there trying to

16:26figure out or find their fault to sign

16:28into the my senior center. That's

16:31prominent because so many grants and

16:33awards in the future are awarded based

16:36on the counts that you get into the

16:38building and that. So we we put that in

16:41a very prominent location. So you come

16:43in reception my senior center and

16:47straight ahead is the monitor of today's

16:50events. So you right when you come in

16:53you can see what's going on uh in the

16:56building.

16:57The lounge access is right opposite

17:00here. So this is your your waiting

17:03lounge or guest lounge. But the idea is

17:06that if you're standing [clears throat]

17:08looking at today's activities, you can

17:10see right down the hallways and which

17:13direction you need to go to, where the

17:14room numbers are. It's a very very

17:17simple organizational scheme.

17:22If you want to go to an event like um

17:27you know a a meeting or a lunch or the

17:30veterans dinner, you might come in this

17:32way and go up this way. Multi-purpose

17:36room. The lounge and this circulation is

17:40designed to house people that are

17:42waiting for the next session to happen.

17:44So you can get a full complement of

17:46folks in here if there's a program going

17:48on up there. And to keep those people

17:51happy, the kitchen has a little snack

17:54[snorts] bar opening so you can grab a

17:56cup of coffee. In Falmouth, they serve

18:00sandwiches out of that window. And this

18:02becomes a real little cafe

18:06conversational area. It has bookshelves,

18:09a fireplace. It's designed to be more

18:12like a living room than a than a lobby

18:13space. Um, there's two rooms. They're

18:181,500 plus square foot each. So that

18:22total space now is 3,000 square ft. And

18:25that holds in various configurations

18:28about 125 people, whether they be in

18:32tables or in theater type seating.

18:36And I'll show you how we can accommodate

18:38more people in in that in the future.

18:42Um, if you come in and go this way,

18:45that's where all the program spaces are.

18:47And you won't have any double bookings

18:50because there actually two rooms here

18:52with a divisible partition. And there's

18:55one, two, three program rooms down on

18:57this end of the building.

19:00To get to those program rooms, you go by

19:02the administrative area. So there's

19:05outreach offices, program director, the

19:08building director, copy, break room,

19:12restroom, staff restroom is really nice

19:14to have. And then here there's a coat

19:17room, there's a a flex office, which is

19:20could be an accountant, it could be an

19:22lawyer, it could be [clears throat]

19:24a nurse with uh vaccines,

19:28professional office, and um another flex

19:32office. So this is sort of a real

19:34opportunity to get more programming for

19:37volunteers for people that aren't there

19:405 days a week. You don't need a full

19:42office for those people.

19:45Program room. Program room. They're just

19:47set up in two different ways. One is

19:49tables like this that seats um

19:5424 folks and then this in sort of

19:58training with a monitor at the front

20:00instructional type seating. Again, the

20:03same number of people.

20:06There are two small program rooms here.

20:10Those are really important if you want

20:11to have a a family meeting. If the

20:13outreach director wants to have a

20:15meeting with more than one or two

20:17people, they can go here. Those are

20:20confidential, soundproof, they have

20:22their own doors. Um, they could be used

20:25for a small group. That's like a

20:29you know, the daily news, other types of

20:32conversations that might happen in small

20:34group activities. Well, you don't really

20:36want to be in a a th00and square foot

20:38conference room. you want to be in a 225

20:42foot small space. And then in this

20:45corner of the building, we have a card

20:49room, game room. We have billiards,

20:51[snorts]

20:54some tables, poker table, and then

20:57there's a a door opens up between those

21:00two rooms. So,

21:02and I think that we got the idea from

21:04Maong from here a couple years ago and

21:06it's completely taken over all the

21:09community centers and senior centers in

21:11Massachusetts. So, the idea was to open

21:14this and when you have a bigger group,

21:16you can combine the two um the two rooms

21:20into one and have a bigger activity. Or

21:23if you have a a group that comes in for

21:26Billiards and maybe Franklin comes in or

21:28North Burough or some other community

21:31comes in for a

21:33pool tournament, they can combine those

21:36two rooms and have a more active space.

21:42Okay, so that's this sort of direction.

21:47I mentioned the cafe window. The cafe

21:50window is backed up by a commercial

21:52kitchen. Um, it's 920 square ft. It's

21:58not huge, but it's not small. It's

22:00designed not only to serve this room,

22:03but also to serve this room in in a

22:06catering manner. I just get over here

22:08for this. The

22:12quarter comes down and then this would

22:15be the end of where we build in phase

22:18one. the exit. The second means of

22:20egress would actually go through and out

22:22the existing door on the back of the

22:24building in phase one.

22:29If you come down this hallway here, you

22:31have a men's room and a ladies room. Not

22:34dissimilar to what's behind the wall

22:36here. We call it a gang room. There's

22:39more than three fixtures in the ladies

22:41and three in the men's. But then you

22:43also have a complement of six individual

22:48restrooms similar to what you have in

22:50the multi-purpose room here. So when

22:54this has a big event and they all come

22:56out at once, you have a lot of fixtures

22:59that can handle that that group.

23:05The way to serve the kitchen and the way

23:10things get like trash gets taken out and

23:12food deliveries come in is not through

23:15the front door, but there's a back door

23:17that comes in. There's an access way

23:20across the back side of the building

23:22today and they would come in here and

23:26get into the kitchen and trash can come

23:28in here and get out without having to go

23:30through the main portion of the of the

23:32scene. Yes, ma'am. Uh what is the can

23:36you compare the actual square footage

23:38there to what we currently have here?

23:41>> Well, it's about that's about three

23:44times

23:44>> that came up in a recent meeting. The

23:47square footage of the

23:48>> Yeah, this is about this area here is

23:50about three times what you have here.

23:52>> P

23:52>> about three times what you have here.

23:55>> It's three times three times bigger.

23:57>> It's three times bigger. Okay.

23:59>> And is the veteran's room in phase one?

24:02>> I'm sorry. The veterans room

24:05>> is the women's room.

24:06>> The the veterans room.

24:07>> No, that doesn't include I'm going to

24:09get to that.

24:09>> Okay.

24:12>> So, I have a question. Tell me again how

24:15many uh stalls

24:17>> um toilet stalls there are.

24:21>> No. What? Women versus men.

24:23>> Well, there's the same. There's three

24:25and three and then there's six with

24:27these can be unisex. They're typically

24:29unisex.

24:31So you go

24:32>> is that enough if you have a big

24:34function in that that upper room?

24:36>> Yeah, it's more than the minimum they

24:39require. Yeah, it's

24:40>> cuz seniors use the bathrooms a lot more

24:43than I mean I

24:44>> Yeah.

24:46>> Don't you also have in the gray area

24:49that there's a huge

24:50>> when the bigger room is added on, you

24:52also have that's not this is not serving

24:55the gray. This is just serving that.

24:57>> And then I have one other question. Um,

24:59do you have any plans for built-in um uh

25:04audiovisisual drop down screen in any of

25:06those rooms?

25:07>> Every room has audio visual and hearing

25:11assist built into it. So, the program

25:14rooms, the game room and that that

25:18space. So, all the public access rooms

25:20have audio visual.

25:22>> Okay. And what about a uh screens, drop

25:24down screen?

25:26Uh, we have a drop down screen in this

25:29room only.

25:30>> In these rooms, the the

25:32>> No, I just wondered if there was one

25:33somewhere.

25:34>> Yeah.

25:34>> Okay.

25:36>> Yes.

25:37>> So,

25:40thanks for the questions. The the this

25:43is just now a walk through of what I I

25:45went in by coming in the front door.

25:48There's my reception on the right,

25:51my senior center, entry to the lounge,

25:54and then here's the today's events and

25:57the directory of the building. So, it's

25:59you come in, it's instantly organiz

26:02organized for you. [snorts]

26:04And that's that front door. Looking at

26:08it the other way, when you come to this

26:12counter that has the screen on it with

26:15today's events, you can see, well,

26:16there's my multi-purpose room that takes

26:19you to one side, that takes you to the

26:21other side, and if the partition is

26:23raised up so that it's one big room,

26:26both of those doors serve the big

26:29multi-purpose room. This here is the

26:32side of the cafe serving counter. And

26:35then that's the lounge across the way.

26:42There you can see now the serving

26:43counter just coming around a little bit.

26:45The lounge

26:48that's sort of the hallway going towards

26:50this multi-purpose room. You can see a

26:54little bit more of the lounge. And then

26:55here the full complement seating area,

26:58cafe area, reading area,

27:01whatever you want in the bookshelves,

27:04fireplace.

27:08As you can see, the idea with this is

27:10that it's very open, very transparent.

27:13But what we find is when people from

27:17this desk here can see what's going on,

27:20that's really huge from a staffing

27:22perspective and and a management. So

27:25they have very good visual control of

27:28what what you know somebody falls or

27:30there's an incident.

27:35There's also on that front desk, there's

27:38another means of getting out of the

27:41front desk. So if you have someone that

27:44may have memory issues or it can be a

27:46little belligerent for some reason and

27:48the front desk folks you have a little

27:50concern about that they have a way of

27:52getting themselves removed from the

27:54situation and going out the back side of

27:58that uh reception area. So there's a

28:01door on the back that they can sort of

28:04need to get out if they need to. Yes.

28:06So, when you're looking straight across

28:08at the program screen, I assume it tells

28:10you what room it's going to be in. Is

28:14there a diagram there? Are there maps to

28:16tell people where things are?

28:19>> Mhm.

28:20>> Which what?

28:21>> There'll be both here on on this.

28:23There'll be displays and maps on that

28:25wall to show you where to go. So if

28:28there's a problem in that area, the

28:32person sitting at the desk can't get

28:34there very quickly.

28:36>> They can come out this side here.

28:38There's another door here on the side.

28:40Yeah.

28:49>> So here's the multi-purpose room.

28:51There's your drop down screen at the end

28:54of the room. it. Here's a drop down

28:57partition. Actually comes down from the

28:59ceiling because there's no interruption,

29:02no bump out on the sidewalls, no no drop

29:05down on the ceiling.

29:07>> It keeps the room completely open and

29:09those are really successful acoustically

29:12because they're they seal on the sides

29:14and the bottom. So, the biggest

29:16complaint we get is the multi-purpose

29:18room has a divisible partition and then

29:20you can't use it because you hear from

29:22one side to the other.

29:25So, I have a question again about the

29:27screen issue because I I know that we're

29:30starting to do movies here, but we just

29:32have that small TV. Yes.

29:34>> And then at at other senior centers,

29:36they have a drop down screen and the

29:38movie days are very popular. So, is

29:41>> that's where we have the

29:43>> the drop down screen will be in the

29:44large room, but then I there's going to

29:46be like TV monitors that are similar to

29:49the one that's on the wall here in all

29:52of the classrooms. So there'll be

29:54options.

29:54>> Options.

29:55>> Yes.

29:57>> And in fact, the big room has small

30:00screens in it as well for both.

30:07And we we can put more. We don't usually

30:10put them if there's a big screen. We

30:11don't put the side monitors in.

30:14>> No, I I get it.

30:16>> This is the pool room that opens up to

30:19the card room. Mong um you can see

30:22there's tables and if somebody wants to

30:26>> work on a computer and it's just it's

30:28sort of more of a men'soriented room

30:30that was done purposely because

30:34>> the hardest thing we have to do is get

30:35men to come to the senior centers and

30:38this is a really good successful way of

30:40doing that

30:42and um

30:45card table there they're a total of five

30:48uh four person tables set up in that

30:51room.

30:52>> Joel, um, one of the slides before you

30:56had like a row of windows. How many

30:59windows did we find land on? Like, let's

31:02do let's say we only do phase one. So,

31:04the sides need windows. Correct.

31:07>> The sides go all the way back to the

31:10beginning.

31:10>> There's no window.

31:11>> We're putting new windows in in the two

31:14program rooms. Okay. No windows are now,

31:16but we're adding those windows.

31:17>> That's what I remember. We had to add

31:18>> Yeah. And that's these are all existing

31:22those windows on the front.

31:25>> Okay. And then the other at the other

31:28end too, right where the bigger room is,

31:31those are windows as well.

31:32>> Those are all existing. Yeah.

31:36>> This back door, there's one door there.

31:38We're making it bigger for deliveries.

31:44So,

31:48>> all right. So, mentioned the alternates.

31:52That was the base vid. And then we can

31:55change the order of them, but this is

31:57actually a little bit more refined than

31:59I showed a couple weeks ago. Um, the

32:02first alternate is to

32:07end that corridor that goes through the

32:09bathrooms with a stair and an elevator

32:13that would serve the second floor up to

32:16the recreation floor. And it includes a

32:20vestibule that would take you into this

32:23space.

32:24So that's not insignificant to vestibial

32:27because right now the library could

32:30clean that up and the library is using

32:31this space. So these doors if if you

32:35only did alternate one, these doors

32:37would take you into that space the way

32:39it is today. And you could use it for

32:42multi-purpose and flexible spaces given

32:45what it is. This elevator and the stair

32:49take you up to the second floor to a

32:53vestibule that's a soundproof vestibule.

32:56So if their kids up here squealing and

32:58having no good time, all that noise

33:00isn't going to go down to the first

33:02floor. So the stair and the elevator are

33:05self-contained down to the first floor.

33:07>> So initially there will not be an

33:09elevator

33:10>> in phase. The base game doesn't have the

33:13elevator,

33:13>> but there are things on the second

33:15floor. There aren't there's a whole

33:17recreation stairway.

33:19>> No, no, no. There's an existing elevator

33:21that goes up to the second existing

33:23elevator here.

33:24>> That's what I'm asking. Is there an

33:26existing?

33:26>> Yeah, there's an existing one here and

33:27here. It's not part of the senior center

33:30space.

33:30>> You have to go outside and back in.

33:33>> Yeah, it's a separate entry.

33:36>> So, it's we we

33:38>> Great.

33:40>> How does that work? So if I may, right

33:43now when if you recall when we started

33:46developing the plans, we came up with

33:49what we referred to as phases. Phase one

33:52was the front portion of the space as

33:55Joel showed, which was the senior center

33:58with the additional work potentially

34:00done at a separate time. Part of what

34:03the expectation is after we complete the

34:06community engagement sessions and have

34:08some more um some cost estimates, not

34:11actual firm bids, is to take additional

34:15information back to the board and the

34:18select board will make an ultimate

34:20decision as to what they want in the

34:23base bid and what they want as

34:25alternates. So what Joel's talking about

34:28right now is how we've been talking

34:30about this up to this point. It could

34:33change. We had a lot of I think it was a

34:36generally favorable

34:39um

34:41uh favorable view of including the

34:43elevator in the design when we held the

34:47first community engagement session. So

34:50again these things could get included.

34:52That's ultimately up to the board what

34:54will be included in the base design,

34:56what will be in the alternates. But

34:57right now, we're talking about this as

34:59an alternate,

35:00>> but if it doesn't get included in the

35:04base design, then seniors probably

35:06cannot access the top floor,

35:09>> not directly from the senior center. It

35:11would require going outside of this

35:14space over to and using the existing

35:17elevator in the building.

35:20And that is exactly a point that

35:21proponents of the elevator have made.

35:24>> The current access for the last year and

35:26a half of the way people get upstairs

35:29one elevator and stairway.

35:32>> Yeah. But it wasn't a senior then

35:34>> without a senior but there was a

35:36library. Yes.

35:40>> It's been the most talked about part of

35:43the project since we started.

35:46>> So

35:49This puts the coming out of the stair in

35:53a really good location because it's near

35:54the gym, near the exercise rooms, the

35:57two big rooms on the upper floor that

36:00are not part of the senior center per

36:03se. And then it's not that big of a hike

36:07to the pool.

36:09The pool is being bid

36:12as a repair project in this room. And at

36:16the current moment, the thought was the

36:18pool bidding would go as either an all

36:22well, it's not clear. We're hoping that

36:24it goes with phase one of the with the

36:26senior center that the pool's just

36:28sitting there and needs to be renovated

36:30and can't be used until it's renovated.

36:37All

36:42right, this is a little bit of a change.

36:45Um,

36:47we put the generator in as alternate two

36:50and two reasons for it. One is the

36:53previous fire chief was working on a

36:56grant for the generator. So, we're

36:58hoping that in some fashion there can be

37:01a grant to uh emergency management and

37:05other agencies are funding in various

37:09communities a generator because it

37:11allows these big rooms like the back

37:14room and the gym upstairs and the

37:16multi-purpose room in the senior center

37:18to be used in a case of an emergency.

37:21The other reason is is that you have a

37:23nice big kitchen and if there's a power

37:27outage and all the food in the kitchen

37:29has to be thrown out, that's sort of a

37:31waste. So, we were thinking that maybe

37:34the generator should be an early on

37:37alternate into the scheme as well. But

37:39these are all up for discussion how the

37:42order gets. The reason I mention that is

37:45was earlier mentioned you you have to

37:47select these in the order that they're

37:49written. So, you can't take three until

37:51you take two.

38:01This could switch, but alternate four is

38:04two additional

38:06multi-purpose program rooms. Um, your

38:09first one is 1,000 square ft, which is

38:12roughly this room, although it's wider

38:14and a better proportion. These are 800

38:17and 750 foot rooms

38:21which we sort of these turn out to be

38:24very good size for most classes uh in

38:28senior centers. They don't all need to

38:30be 1,000 square ft.

38:32So those two rooms are an alternate. It

38:35extends the hallway and then you would

38:38go out.

38:44Okay, I'm going to spend a little bit of

38:46time on this back because we have

38:49>> we have a lot more information. We

38:52>> we in the previous contract we had

38:55designed the senior center in full but

38:57we hadn't really done this. Now we've

38:59had the opportunity to design this and

39:01we've engaged theater consultants and

39:03seating consultants and caterers and

39:06really come up with a little bit more

39:08precise opportunity here.

39:12The other thing that's a little

39:13different is that the there's a ramp

39:16that goes onto the outside. There's an

39:18existing entry at this point from your

39:20rear parking lot. There's parking here

39:22in the back. There's parking here on the

39:25side. So that there's a good number of

39:26vehicles that can come in this door, but

39:30it's not accessible. It's up 4T. So we

39:33have to put a ramp here. Um, the ramp

39:36was a separate alternate and we thought,

39:38well, you're probably not going to build

39:40the ramp if you don't renovate the room.

39:42So, we're suggesting maybe they go

39:44together, which would be a lot better

39:47from a construction [clears throat]

39:48perspective. Um, if that alter was

39:51accepted, it brings you into the lobby

39:55and then it takes you to this main room.

39:57And you had asked about the veteran

39:59space. These are the veterans offices

40:02here. home.

40:04>> So, this rear entry takes you veterans,

40:07the large community room, and then a

40:10whole another set of of restrooms. The

40:13men's room has four additional stalls,

40:16and the ladies room has seven additional

40:18stalls in this corner.

40:21>> There's also a community locker and

40:23mechanical equipment. community lockers

40:24is if there are other groups that want

40:26to use this space, they can have a

40:28locker like that that has their

40:30equipment in it and then they can take

40:32that in and use the multi-purpose room.

40:35What's shown here is tables and chairs

40:39that serve the maximum 300 people. So,

40:44there was always concern that this room

40:48wasn't big enough. If you have a really

40:51good meeting, this now serves 300. It

40:56might that's the peak. You know, we

40:57might want to get rid of that table and

40:59that table to have a little bit more

41:02space for serveing counters and that,

41:04but so anywhere between two and 300

41:07folks is easily accommodated in that.

41:10And the kitchen can serve into it

41:13directly in different ways.

41:16we're

41:18considering and hasn't gotten through

41:20completely yet. Maybe the entry

41:23shouldn't be here, but if we put a

41:25garage door here, we could have a

41:28driveway and a truck could a box truck

41:30could literally back up to this. They

41:33could serve the kitchen. And then if you

41:35had a large event, you want to call

41:37court and have the chairs and tables

41:40brought in and set up by a professional

41:42group. they could draw up their box

41:44truck in and service the the the

41:47multi-purpose room. If you had a a band

41:50that wanted to use this, and I'll show

41:52you how that could be used, they could

41:53drive up. And so, we're sort of

41:56wondering if we should put an access

41:59panel here that would be like a lo small

42:01loading dot for that space.

42:03>> Yeah.

42:04I recall when first discussed that

42:07there's a a major uh water uh fire

42:11hydrant type connection system right in

42:14that corner that then would all have to

42:16be

42:17>> uh moved or relocated somehow.

42:22>> So I think I missed something. I've got

42:24alternate one is the stairs elevator two

42:27is the generator. What was alternate

42:30three? Three.

42:31>> Three was the multi-purpose rooms.

42:33>> The additional multi-purpose rooms.

42:37>> I'm sorry. Three was a generator.

42:41>> Well, what was two then?

42:42>> The vestibule.

42:43>> Two is

42:44>> one and two. Oh, I I'm sorry. Thank you.

42:47>> You have the option, which I didn't

42:50like, so I eventually just forgot to say

42:53it. You can do the elevator and not do

42:56the stair

42:57>> if you want. Yeah, that's what I wanted.

42:59>> You don't have to do both.

43:00>> Oh, okay.

43:04>> It would be nice to do both because from

43:07a structural perspective, it

43:10>> you wouldn't want to do it in two

43:12separate bases.

43:13>> I have a question for Ker,

43:14>> but you don't have to do both. From a

43:15code perspective, you could just put an

43:17elevator in. You can't just put the

43:19stair in. If you're going to do one, it

43:20has to be the elevator.

43:21>> Okay. So, my other understanding is in

43:24the back of the building where there's a

43:26big parking lot, it's currently being

43:28used

43:30in some way. There's I mean, it's not

43:33empty back there. There's I don't know

43:35whether the town is using it or or the

43:38landscapers that work for the town are

43:40doing it.

43:42>> No, it's actually never seen the

43:43>> trucks were trucks were held there

43:46during the snow season, I think.

43:48>> They're not there now.

43:49>> Nothing there. No,

43:50>> no, it's only during a Okay. So,

43:52basically that's not going to be used by

43:54the DPW.

43:55>> It's intended to be parking to support

43:58this.

43:59>> Okay.

43:59>> Yep. So, Kendra, um on the first level,

44:03there are no exercise classes, right?

44:07>> At all. So, the they'll be all on the

44:09second floor.

44:10>> Yeah. The intention would be to keep

44:11using the community center for the

44:14exercise I'm sorry, the um Rex

44:16department for the exercise classes. I

44:20do think those two like activity rooms,

44:24those tables and chairs could be moved

44:26to the side.

44:28>> If there's something that we want to

44:30hold on the first floor, like a fitness

44:32class, we could potentially do it, but I

44:35think the bulk would remain upstairs.

44:38Yeah,

44:38>> there is a way to do it, too.

44:42>> If we're going to have a commercial

44:43kitchen, does that mean we can have

44:45cooking on site the way North does?

44:48>> Yes. Yeah, that's that's the plan is is

44:50to have regular meal service.

44:54>> So that I mean I think you you'll have

44:57regular meal service for 100 to 200. If

45:01you have 300 people in there, I think

45:02you're going to cater it. You won't be

45:05cooking that many.

45:06>> Up till now it's all been brought in.

45:08>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. the um

45:18okay so

45:20the back parking entry we come in um I

45:24mentioned seating the veterans now how

45:28does how does that this is sort of a

45:30picture of the back this is just some

45:31made up want to put a big mural up there

45:35to announce that this is a community

45:37center theater multi-purpose days just

45:40get some attention to it that's coming

45:42in that you know people don't usually

45:44get tickets anymore but it's nice to

45:46have a if there's a conference going on

45:49have a concier's desk um a reception or

45:54greeting point for that space

45:59and this just shows sort of

46:04the comparison of of two seating types

46:06and I'll get more into it so we said it

46:08can be used for tables and chairs. That

46:11doesn't have to be senior center stuff

46:13as I mentioned. It could be some

46:15business group in insurance company

46:17wants to have a conference or a

46:20accountant wants to have a retirement

46:23meeting. Those can all happen in that

46:26space, but the opportunity is there to

46:29tuck in on the sides in the rear. So

46:34that's a 5,000 ft 5,200 ft open room.

46:41And then around the edges we outside of

46:44that space we have storage and seating.

46:50And the bleachers can literally come out

46:53of the wall and go into different

46:56configurations in the room.

46:59I think I'm going to just stand over

47:01here.

47:05The other way, this could be just open

47:08activity. It can be a polling station

47:11if you wanted to have a pickle ball

47:13tournament because you could have two

47:14pickle balls in the gym upstairs. You

47:17can actually get three temporary pickle

47:19balls on the floor of that only to show

47:22that there's so many different uses

47:25because this is a wonderful high ceiling

47:27space that could be used for anything.

47:30That that's the the

47:33Okay,

47:38there's a number of different ways you

47:40can do the seating in the building. One

47:43would be you can have a stage here at

47:46the end and you can just have the

47:48seating pointed straight at the stage.

47:50So that would be ideal for a movie. You

47:52can see in the front here, these are

47:55wheelchair seating and that's about 172

48:00um seats in that that configuration.

48:05And you can see that from the seating is

48:09relatively steep. It's got very good

48:11sight lines. So you you don't actually

48:14need a raised stage to see what's going

48:16on if you have a performance. and not

48:18having not needing a raised stage means

48:20you don't have to have a ramp and a

48:22stair. We can also bring in a temporary

48:25raised stair stage, but we don't really

48:29want to have a fixed stage because then

48:31that interrupts the polling activity. It

48:34interrupts other activities in that

48:36room.

48:38So, here's how that seating comes out of

48:41the wall. Just folds out and now folds

48:45back in. Can you all see that? That And

48:48we've done this uh in a community center

48:50up in Kery. Hugely popularly. It's

48:54really phenomenal.

48:58This is that that particular This is a

49:00renovation of a school, but there's the

49:02seating open

49:05and then that's the seating closed. So,

49:06it takes up 3 ft when it's closed and

49:10you have the multi-purpose room to use

49:12it.

49:14Now, if you want to have a band and you

49:18or you want to have a a theater group

49:20perform in the round, you can have

49:23seating.

49:25This seating in the middle that came all

49:27the way out in the first scheme would

49:29only come halfway out in this scheme.

49:31And you can have theater in the round

49:34and that would look like um this. So,

49:36it's a much bigger performance stage and

49:40um be great for if there was a a band

49:43and it's the two years ago the comments

49:47we kept hearing were oh that nic is very

49:52popular. This is sort of modeled on that

49:54size space with a lot more flexibility

49:56than that that room has. But when I say

49:59a band coming through that you start in

50:02western Massachusetts and go Worcester

50:05here in Nic, there are a series of these

50:07small or venues that would bring midsize

50:10national acts to the community if you

50:14wanted to do that. And then this just

50:15shows how you can come out the center,

50:18you can retract it, come out the sides,

50:21that that seating can be very flexible.

50:23And the seating on the sides is actually

50:26on is movable. So it it slides in the

50:30room and it doesn't upset the room. And

50:33what's great is that the seating is

50:35furniture and fixtures. It's not

50:38something that you have to buy with the

50:39building. So if we wanted to design this

50:41room and put that in at a later point in

50:43time, we could do that too.

50:46>> Have you got any kind of estimate for

50:48pricing for all of this flexibility?

50:51>> We'll have detailed estimates that I I

50:53will say that to furnish with lights and

50:56the portable stage was when we did it in

51:00Kery was 200,000. It's probably 300

51:02today. But that that was with theater

51:05lights and a theater sound and the

51:07movable bleachers. So I have a question

51:10about this bleacher seating and are

51:13there rails?

51:14>> Yeah, there rails on the side.

51:16>> So the seniors would regular bleacher

51:19seating would be

51:20>> Yeah, these are these are seats. These

51:22are theater type seats.

51:24>> No, I know the seats, but getting to the

51:26seats.

51:26>> Yeah, it's all

51:27>> there's a rail all the way up. Okay.

51:33>> And that's the space configured for

51:36dining.

51:38And that's if you wanted to play pickle

51:41ball or have recreation come down and

51:45have kids street hockey, they can, you

51:48know, with the plastic and rubber balls.

51:50A lot of uses for this space.

51:53And then this is uh it's set up for

51:56polling that you could come in the back,

51:59you check in, there's the warden's desk,

52:02your check-in desk, you go to your

52:04polling stations, and then you get your

52:06check out, and you can either go out

52:08this way or come out back to the front

52:11door. So, it just shows um we also have

52:14a diagram for emergency CS that can go

52:17in there. We could seat about 100 uh CS

52:20in there during an emergency.

52:24So

52:26that's all sort of new information on

52:28the big room. I'm really anxious to hear

52:30if any thoughts are on that as we

52:33develop. My question actually is that

52:36that large auditorium is that big enough

52:41>> how many usually tell

52:43>> 200 but it should be

52:45>> it um no that sounds about that's that

52:49would be the seating would be about the

52:50same size as the high school auditorium.

52:53I don't think it would seat quite as

52:54many as the high school auditorium. So

52:57not

52:57>> because you'd have to have the overflow

52:59and other

52:59>> Yeah. The one thing we've contemplated

53:01holding there are elections um moving

53:04those from the high school which will

53:06happen this November once the library

53:09moves out but our we expect then once

53:12the building we might miss a year

53:15because of construction but then after

53:17that we would look to permanently hold

53:20elections in that large space.

53:23So, what I heard at one of the

53:24presentations is that you're hoping to

53:27rank the alternatives.

53:31>> That's how we've contemplated it. And

53:33likely, yes, there will be some

53:36alternatives, but the board will get an

53:39updated presentation from Joel and his

53:42team, including updated cost estimates

53:46once they complete the community

53:48engagement because they're making some

53:50tweaks. some of the things that you

53:52presented have been tweaked since the

53:54last presentation and then the board

53:56will ultimately decide what goes into

53:58the base bid and what will be

54:00alternates. Okay. So if people have

54:02strong feelings that an elevator

54:04absolutely needs to be part of the

54:06design. I mean those are the types of

54:08things we're looking for people to

54:10express or if you feel strongly that

54:12something should not be part of the

54:13base. um you know that's the feedback

54:16Joel's team has been capturing and

54:19using.

54:20>> So would there be an opportunity to

54:24charge businesses and I don't know

54:26weddings and you know people to use that

54:28room is there an opportunity to profit

54:30from this center or is it a government

54:33building that wouldn't be profited from?

54:36Um the facility fees are intended to

54:39capture the cost of using the space and

54:42not to be a profit center per se.

54:44>> Okay, got that.

54:48>> Um that Yeah, that wasn't a complete

54:51answer. Can it can it be commercially

54:54rented out essentially?

54:56>> Well, are you asking can we make money

54:58off of it or are you asking about who

55:00can use it?

55:00>> Who can use it really? I guess

55:02>> um

55:02>> cuz if you can use it then you can

55:04collect enough of a fee to pay the

55:07costs. I assume

55:09>> correct the the way the fee structure

55:13works right now for our facilities use

55:15policy it's intended to cover the cost

55:17of you know use of electricity you know

55:21the custodian those types of things. So

55:24that I envision because of municipal

55:27finance law that's how we would have to

55:28continue to operate. I think your

55:30question about who gets to use it. Um,

55:33right now it tends to be groups that are

55:36community groups, nonprofits, and

55:39typically the events are open to the

55:42public for the most part. this might be

55:45different and it would require the

55:47policy to be changed because if you're

55:49talking about ticketed events and

55:52they're um you know the question becomes

55:54if they're sponsored by the town that's

55:56one thing but if it's somebody renting

55:58the space to then hold a ticketed event.

56:01So I think those are things that would

56:02need to be addressed by policy. We just

56:05don't currently have space that we

56:06utilize that way.

56:08>> That could be fun, right? if a

56:10corporate, you know, people are using

56:12that space because there's not a real

56:14lot of space in Westboro for

56:17meetings and whatnot.

56:18>> No, but as a municipal entity, like I I

56:21think it would be hard to look at that

56:22as a way to make money. The fee would

56:26really need to be tied more closely to

56:28the cost of using the space, which is

56:31pretty low. So then he was comparing the

56:35space to [snorts] the Natic art spa

56:38facility that I've been to several

56:40times. And if you're talking about

56:42bringing in bands and performers and

56:44whatever, those are considered

56:47commercial events.

56:49>> It depends on who who does it. The

56:51senior center, the recreation department

56:53could be the entities that engage those.

56:55So it would then be a [snorts] town

56:57sponsored event,

56:58>> right? So I I think you know when we do

57:01our Tuesday nights, we have a performer

57:03that comes to play for the dinners. We

57:07we pay that performer to be there. And

57:10that's so

57:12>> Yeah, but that's a different that's a

57:14very different level financially than

57:16bringing in a band.

57:17>> But if we had a band and the senior

57:19center was hosting the band, we wouldn't

57:21pay the town to use the space. we would

57:24advertise it and then probably figure

57:27out a ticket cost to cover the fee that

57:29the band is charging us basically.

57:31>> What if a company wants to use it for a

57:33company meeting, let's say?

57:34>> So, that's different. Let me It's hard

57:36because this is it's um I think if if

57:40we're hosting an event and we want to

57:42set a ticket price, that's a great way

57:44to use it as a to to make money. So if

57:47you do have a band or some other

57:49something coming in a performance and

57:51you can charge a ticket price, you can

57:54profit on that event

57:57leasing the allowing someone to

58:00basically rent the space. You are

58:02limited more limited in how you can

58:04profit from that. We are not in the

58:07business of doing that. We would have to

58:10that it needs to be more directly tied

58:12to the cost of them using the space.

58:14Think about it. If they took a hotel,

58:17>> it's we can't this is this isn't um

58:21Yeah. So, so that's it's our limitation

58:23as a municipal entity to do that.

58:26>> You also start competing with local

58:28businesses.

58:30But if we want if we could use

58:31[clears throat] that and we could we

58:32could draw people into an event that's

58:34you know co-sponsored maybe the library

58:37the senior center and the w get a really

58:41a speaker that people are willing to pay

58:43good money to come see you know we can

58:45we can collect um and keep that. It's

58:49just using it as a rental property is

58:52not that we would run a foul of some of

58:54the limitations under municipal finance

58:57law. I know, but you're talking about a

58:59really big space that has flexibility

59:02for lots of tables and chairs. You have

59:05you can have bleachers, you can have all

59:07kinds of stuff, but if you don't figure

59:09out like how you actually going to use

59:12it and what and and the cost I mean you

59:15say you're going to have events that are

59:17sponsored by the senior center and

59:19whatever you charge going to cover the

59:21cost of the custodian and that kind of

59:23thing, but that's a big space and I

59:25don't know how much money we're talking

59:27about putting a space in that big and

59:29how much you're going to use it if you

59:31restrict like the way you're going to

59:33use it to, you know, senior center and

59:36and the community

59:38>> sounds like a policy.

59:40>> Yeah, it it would be open for community

59:42groups. So, like the Boy Scouts could

59:44use it, the Girl Scouts could use it,

59:46the uh garden club, the community

59:48chorus, everybody that currently uses

59:51this building as like a rental because

59:53they serve the community would be able

59:56to use it. So like if the uh if the

59:59senior center supporters wanted to have

1:00:00their holiday fair there, they could

1:00:02have it in that room that is serving the

1:00:04community, it's open to the public, they

1:00:06would be able to use that large space to

1:00:08have it in one room. And it's I mean

1:00:11>> if the library wanted to have their book

1:00:13sale or

1:00:14>> can't you use can't they do I mean

1:00:16what's the the size of the double

1:00:19multi-purpose room that

1:00:21>> 3,000 square ft?

1:00:23>> Yeah, that's a big space.

1:00:26but not as big obviously as this

1:00:28auditorious

1:00:30concern that it wasn't big enough which

1:00:32is what prompted the initial study of

1:00:35putting more seats in this room and then

1:00:37once we put more seats in we said well

1:00:40what other uses can we get so that you

1:00:42can use that room as many days of the

1:00:44year as possible

1:00:46>> there's a lot of opportunity for use um

1:00:49we have limitations right now we have um

1:00:52we're short on meeting space so one of

1:00:54the ideas was um that space could be

1:00:57used for board and committee meetings

1:00:59and there are times when we have larger

1:01:01turnout. So then you know that would

1:01:03give us the ability to um to have

1:01:06sufficient space for those meetings. We

1:01:09also have um there are community groups

1:01:12that use the space. We have um you know

1:01:17different town affiliated things. um

1:01:20many of our staff belong to their

1:01:22various you know professional municipal

1:01:25associations and they could offer to

1:01:27host those. So there's a lot of things

1:01:29that are directly related and I I do

1:01:32think we've heard a lot of ideas of how

1:01:34that space could be used. Um there are

1:01:36events that are held here that Kendra

1:01:38has to cap ticket sales. So even just

1:01:41the senior center could host some of

1:01:43your bigger holiday lunches or expand

1:01:46into dinners and have more space and not

1:01:49have to cap ticket sales. So I think

1:01:52there's been a lot of discussion and a

1:01:54lot of ideas about appropriate ways that

1:01:56we can by appropriate I mean um we're

1:02:00the challenge is we can't be a landlord

1:02:02and and rent that and use it as sort of

1:02:05a money maker in the sense that maybe a

1:02:08hotel that has a ballroom can do it.

1:02:11>> So I so I hear what you're saying. So

1:02:15that sound that

1:02:17and I'm this is not not a knock on you

1:02:20but your presentation about how that

1:02:22room could be used is not helpful your

1:02:25what you

1:02:26>> but those are the types of events we

1:02:27would envision the town could sponsor

1:02:29there things um through the cultural

1:02:31council they get grants and can host

1:02:34events um you know we've partnered with

1:02:37other community groups Westboroough

1:02:39connects um you know we're often

1:02:42challenged just because their space is

1:02:44so in demand when we need to when we

1:02:47want to host different um you know

1:02:49there's a backpack drive, there's the

1:02:51holiday store. Um there are different

1:02:54things that we are we struggle to find

1:02:56space and we could fit there. Um there

1:02:59are things that you know the recreation

1:03:01department offers that um they could do

1:03:04in that space after hours. So the the

1:03:08things that Joel talked about could be

1:03:11things that the town runs. We're not

1:03:13talking about um you know the Boston

1:03:15Pops hosting their own.

1:03:17>> Okay. I mean I just I I think it's

1:03:20great. The space would be wonderful. I

1:03:22just think

1:03:23>> you got you got to

1:03:25>> explain it a little better. I think that

1:03:27the town connection and how it would

1:03:29Yeah.

1:03:30>> Okay. Thank you.

1:03:31>> Know yet what the use of this building

1:03:34is going to go to or what will happen to

1:03:36this building?

1:03:38>> No. What we've talked about is the

1:03:40potential for selling this building and

1:03:43then using the proceeds from the sale of

1:03:45this building

1:03:46>> to offset that. But obviously the timing

1:03:50doesn't work in our favor in terms of um

1:03:53being able to to use that money

1:03:56initially or know what it is even right

1:03:58up front because we would need to move

1:04:00out of this building into the new space

1:04:02then sell this building.

1:04:03>> So Joel, I have a question for you. Do

1:04:06you have an estimate of how long it

1:04:08would take to actually do the remodeling

1:04:11for phase one? Is that a one-year

1:04:13project, a two-year project?

1:04:14>> It's a one-year project.

1:04:15>> One year. Okay. And the other thing is

1:04:18if the elevator is not um earmarked for

1:04:22phase one, and it's right now it's

1:04:24alternate one, right? How disruptive

1:04:26would that be to the existing phase one

1:04:29space?

1:04:31It could be done.

1:04:42>> At the select board meeting, they were

1:04:44talking about having it all done at once

1:04:47versus peace meal. you you'd want to

1:04:50build a a wall here and you want to

1:04:54contain all that because as you I don't

1:04:56know if you know the the site was built

1:05:00on an old factory. So when we

1:05:03>> dig for the elevator pits we have to

1:05:04ventilate that separately and make sure

1:05:06that the air doesn't go into the senior

1:05:09center. So you have to build a real wall

1:05:12here to contain that space. And then you

1:05:16have to have to figure out how to put a

1:05:18hole in the concrete floor above and get

1:05:21rid of that and a hole for the stair. So

1:05:24it's not easy and it's not it would be

1:05:27disruptive noisewise is a jackhammer and

1:05:30>> saw cut and you want to

1:05:32>> sure

1:05:33>> do it all at once quickly.

1:05:34>> Yeah. And if you had to estimate uh

1:05:36length of time for that, is that a

1:05:38six-month project?

1:05:40If we had to put in if we wanted to put

1:05:41an elevator after phase one,

1:05:43>> after this Well, it probably is a

1:05:45six-month at least just because it takes

1:05:47so long to get an elevator.

1:05:48>> Yeah.

1:05:48>> Yeah.

1:05:49>> So, I I vote for the elevator to be part

1:05:51of phase one. So, I just want that. Do

1:05:54we want that? [laughter]

1:05:56>> Is there

1:05:56>> That's one vote.

1:05:57>> Is there an two votes,

1:05:59>> Joel? Is there an approximate amount of

1:06:00money percentage that could be saved by

1:06:03just doing the whole floor at once

1:06:05without having to bring people back over

1:06:06and over and over?

1:06:08>> Well,

1:06:08>> for disruption.

1:06:09>> Yeah, it's cheaper to do it all at once.

1:06:11For sure.

1:06:11>> Like appreciably. 10%.

1:06:13>> Very appreciably. Yes.

1:06:15>> Very appreciably.

1:06:16>> Yeah. Because

1:06:1825 to 30% of a project is supervision,

1:06:22coordination, overhead, the people that

1:06:25aren't building it. So if you do this as

1:06:27a completely separate job, the guy that

1:06:30supervises this is done. You have to

1:06:32bring in a whole new set of management

1:06:35supervision and and it's the the

1:06:38overhead and general conditions of a

1:06:40construction project get added in

1:06:43separately for this addition.

1:06:45>> So I'm hearing we'll save 30% if we do

1:06:47the whole four months. Correct.

1:06:48>> It could be 20 to 30%.

1:06:50>> That we need to make that point like big

1:06:52time in March. We're not really

1:06:54proposing well if it was an alternate

1:06:57you would do it together and you'd get

1:06:58that synergy.

1:07:01>> If you didn't do the alternate and you

1:07:02did it 5 years from now, it would be

1:07:05more expensive. And then

1:07:07>> what happens too is is that you know

1:07:09when we built a senior center in 2021,

1:07:13it's a lot different than it is today in

1:07:152026 in terms of cost. So you you have

1:07:18not only the overlap of supervision, but

1:07:20you have the escalation of

1:07:24inflation costs.

1:07:25>> That's potentially millions of dollars

1:07:27if we do it all at once potentially. I

1:07:30like it. it. I can give you horror

1:07:33stories about that. When people when

1:07:36when communities wait and you have to do

1:07:40it when you have the money, but it

1:07:41usually is a frustration because you can

1:07:46build less for the same amount of money

1:07:47or you spend more money to build the

1:07:49same.

1:07:51>> Those are like really key points that

1:07:53have to get across in March.

1:07:57Just saying.

1:07:59And Joe, did revisit the pool. I think

1:08:01you you said you weren't sure if it's

1:08:03gonna or the select board was going to

1:08:05decide whether it's going to be part of

1:08:06phase one or not because I I've heard a

1:08:08couple of things. So,

1:08:09>> right. So

1:08:12Patrick's here and I think you

1:08:13[laughter] can vouch for So we're

1:08:16continuing to talk about it in the terms

1:08:18that we previously had with the

1:08:20understanding that this this community

1:08:22engagement getting additional

1:08:24information these tweaks. will then come

1:08:26back to the board for discussion and

1:08:29consideration about how to package this

1:08:32to put it out to that bid and then bring

1:08:34it to town meeting because it is not you

1:08:38know the board is aware and um there

1:08:41have been board members who have raised

1:08:42the notion that there is um the added

1:08:47costs of you know whatever the cost

1:08:49escalation is if it doesn't all get done

1:08:51at once there's a recognition of sort of

1:08:54the economies scale of doing at once.

1:08:56But what we needed was more information,

1:08:59get the design set because until the

1:09:02design is set and Joel can take it back

1:09:05to his team and get cost estimates, not

1:09:08bid numbers, but just cost estimates,

1:09:11then the board can use that information

1:09:12to make decisions about what it actually

1:09:15how it will go out to bid. So, right

1:09:17now, the pool could either be part of

1:09:19phase one or it could be an alternate

1:09:21because we don't have estimates yet.

1:09:23Basically,

1:09:24>> we have estimates because we went out to

1:09:26bid for the pool. The part that we were

1:09:28told and are hoping that we will capture

1:09:31if it's part of this project is what

1:09:33Joel was just talking about that

1:09:34supervision. So, if it's not done as a

1:09:38standalone project, you would capture

1:09:41some um cost avoidance in that oversight

1:09:45piece.

1:09:49If the pool doesn't fly, is there a plan

1:09:53B to how to use that space? No,

1:09:57>> you'd have to put in

1:09:59>> it will there's no that's not being

1:10:02contemplated.

1:10:04>> Yes,

1:10:04>> it would be an empty pool.

1:10:07Yeah,

1:10:08>> we would deserve it if

1:10:10>> Yeah, we have the if your question, we

1:10:12haven't come up with drawings or

1:10:14alternates or costs at this point to

1:10:16fill in the pool, right?

1:10:24>> And Jo, one more question. Um,

1:10:29do you think we'll definitely have bids

1:10:31by the beginning of of the year, like

1:10:34January, February? Uh we're shooting to

1:10:36have the drawings done by the 15th of

1:10:39December to go either out right before

1:10:41Christmas or right after the first of

1:10:43the year

1:10:44>> and get bids back in January.

1:10:46>> And do you send uh the the plans to

1:10:50various contractors or

1:10:52>> for this project? It's over $10 million.

1:10:54So, it's pre-advertised and with the OP

1:10:57with the OPM team, we review all

1:11:01pre-qualified contractors have to submit

1:11:03their interest and we qualify them and

1:11:07get rid of the ones that don't qualify

1:11:09and then it comes down to only 10 people

1:11:12are qualified to bid usually. So, you

1:11:16you pre-select that and um it makes it a

1:11:19better project

1:11:20>> and it can be done in a month's time,

1:11:21you think?

1:11:22>> It's a month to six weeks. Yeah.

1:11:23>> Okay. So, we had trouble fi not me, but

1:11:25we had trouble finding people to bid on

1:11:28that second floor pool. Uh, do you have

1:11:30people to bid on the second floor pool?

1:11:32>> Yeah. The the reason is that when you do

1:11:35the pool as a standalone project, you

1:11:37can't just get a pool contractor to do

1:11:38it. It has to be a general contractor.

1:11:41So, now you get a pool contractor. You

1:11:42get a general contractor who marks up

1:11:45the pool contractor by the for insurance

1:11:48and bonding and that's at the 20 to 30%

1:11:50increase. And no general contractor

1:11:53really wants to do that kind of work

1:11:55anyway. But if it's part of the big

1:11:57bigger senior center,

1:12:00contractor A can go out and just hire a

1:12:04pool guy to come in and fix the pool and

1:12:06it's a lot more straightforward and a

1:12:08lot easier. And the the response to

1:12:11these things were these are good

1:12:12comments to bring up. I have to be a

1:12:15little bit careful when you make a

1:12:16public presentation not to be the

1:12:18salesman or so. The best thing for us is

1:12:21for people like you to ask the questions

1:12:23in the meetings and then we can answer

1:12:25them. But we need to get the questions

1:12:28raised because I I can't be up there and

1:12:30say, "Oh, if you don't do this now."

1:12:32>> No, but there's, you know, economies of

1:12:34scale obviously by doing things at one

1:12:36time. It's just what kind of appetite we

1:12:38have for loans and other

1:12:40>> um

1:12:41>> ways of funding all of this.

1:12:43>> Well, nobody know I mean none of us know

1:12:45how to build a building. So I think it

1:12:48does need to be pointed out that there

1:12:50are economies of that where you're going

1:12:51to ultimately save is the supervision

1:12:54you know like I wouldn't know that if if

1:12:56you didn't tell me that. So

1:13:07okay we exhausted the questions for the

1:13:09moment till tonight. So, just a reminder

1:13:12if you want to go through this again

1:13:14tonight, um we are having the community

1:13:16engagement session starts at 6:30 in the

1:13:19Great Hall at the Forbes Municipal

1:13:21Building. Um

1:13:24if you don't want to put yourself in

1:13:26double jeopardy, but if you do know of

1:13:27other people in the community and you

1:13:29can reach out, um we're looking to get

1:13:31some more attendance. We had a good

1:13:32turnout for our first session here.

1:13:34>> Yeah. Um, and I think there were some

1:13:36good discussions, some good questions,

1:13:38and I think, um, one of the things I

1:13:40thought was positive is I think we saw

1:13:42some folks who had not previously been

1:13:44engaged or involved in prior

1:13:47conversations. So, oh, I just want to

1:13:48clarify one thing. I remember this from

1:13:50two years ago. Is the veterans room in

1:13:53the back because the veterans choose to

1:13:55be in the back? That's what I thought.

1:13:57Okay. Okay.

1:13:59>> Thank you.

1:14:00>> It's great to do these presentations and

1:14:02then I'll remember to say that tonight.

1:14:04Yeah, they they didn't want to be part

1:14:06of the senior center for they don't mind

1:14:08connecting to the senior center if they

1:14:10want to, but they don't want to

1:14:11>> they want their own entrance

1:14:12>> because you have Iraq and you you know

1:14:15current veterans that may want to come

1:14:17in that are 30 years old.

1:14:18>> Um they don't want to use a senior

1:14:20center.

1:14:21>> So it will be a separate entrance to the

1:14:23veterans

1:14:24>> and it comes in the same entry as the

1:14:26big theater multi-purpose room. But you

1:14:29come in and you go to the right to the

1:14:30veterans to the theater.

1:14:35>> And Kim, is somebody keeping track of uh

1:14:39the questions of the community

1:14:40engagement?

1:14:42>> And in answers we

1:14:44>> Yes.

1:14:45>> Yeah.

1:14:48>> Our own

1:14:50we are keeping track so that when we

1:14:52develop the design to make sure that we

1:14:54incorporating that. So, but I do have

1:14:56your comments. Perfect. Thanks.

1:15:01>> Thank you very much.

1:15:02>> Thank you.

1:15:03>> Thank you. Thank you.

1:15:05>> Actually, it helps to come to more than

1:15:07one of these presentations

1:15:10>> because every time I hear things a

1:15:12little better.

1:15:13>> It's a lot of information.

1:15:14>> Yeah, it's a lot to take in in one

1:15:16presentation.

1:15:17>> And then different people have different

1:15:19perspectives and things that you, you

1:15:20know, you may think of I hadn't thought

1:15:22of, etc.

1:15:23>> Yeah.

1:15:33activity.

1:15:39Anyway, I digress.

1:15:44>> We can respond to

1:15:45>> Yeah, just

1:15:51>> Yeah, but we had another one.

1:15:55Okay, it doesn't matter.

1:15:57>> I introduced

1:16:00>> I thought

1:16:03>> I just want to We have some paper guys

1:16:06here.

1:16:06>> Yeah. Doug, do you want to

1:16:08>> You want to come sit up at the table?

1:16:10>> Sure, why not? [laughter]

1:16:12>> Welcome, Doug.

1:16:12>> Everybody,

1:16:15come on down. Doug has been sworn in.

1:16:18>> Yes.

1:16:37Take care. See you in a little.

1:16:40>> Oh, okay. Okay. I'm trying to wait.

1:16:45>> Maybe Carolyn, you want me to do my

1:16:47little thing? Thank you.

1:16:49>> Yes, let's do see you later.

1:16:51>> And then by that time should be all

1:16:54together.

1:16:55>> I feel like I could give this

1:16:58>> house on aging cable TV show. The next

1:17:01chapter is going along great. Um I have

1:17:06to say that the cable Westboro cable TV

1:17:10staff have been fabulous in terms of

1:17:13sort of helping me get over my nerves.

1:17:17Karen and Aiden,

1:17:18>> you have to call them the awardwinning.

1:17:20>> Yes, the awardwinning. Yes. [laughter]

1:17:24>> Well paid for those comments.

1:17:25>> Yeah. So, you all know in in July, we

1:17:29had the fire chief come in just days

1:17:33before his retirement.

1:17:35>> He was very gracious to continue his

1:17:37commitment to come in and do that dial

1:17:40911 interview, which was which was

1:17:42great. the August presentation about

1:17:45down downsizing. I've watched it three

1:17:47times. I I really enjoy it. I highly

1:17:50recommend people do that. Um coming up

1:17:54in September,

1:17:56it's towards the end end of the month

1:17:58because I had to push it back a little

1:18:01bit in order to try to capture what

1:18:03actually is changing with Medicare in

1:18:052027.

1:18:06So, I'll be interviewing um will uh Bill

1:18:10Lrad who's the shine counselor here in

1:18:13town. Um I am a retired Shine counselor,

1:18:16so it'll be interesting conversation

1:18:18[laughter] between the two of us.

1:18:20>> Um for October, I have lined up the

1:18:24Westboro Town moderator,

1:18:27>> John Arnold, who's fabulous.

1:18:30Um, and we're going to talk about his

1:18:33job and the challenges he faces. And

1:18:36there is a meeting coming up with some

1:18:39warrants on it. But he's also going to

1:18:41talk about how people in town can get

1:18:45their issues onto um town meetings or

1:18:49even ask for a special town meeting, how

1:18:51many people that takes, all the sort of

1:18:53workings of that. So I think it's going

1:18:55to be fascinating. Um, in November I

1:18:58have the um burrows uh sec uh doc um

1:19:03nurse, excuse me, who um is now come

1:19:07comes once a week to here in town and

1:19:10we're going to go over file of life, the

1:19:12molts and her job and what she does. And

1:19:16in September, I have a surprise, a

1:19:20Christmas surprise, which I'll probably

1:19:23tell you what it is in November, but it

1:19:26definitely is holiday related. So, and

1:19:30then I'm planning on doing

1:19:33um January and February

1:19:36um interviewing these guys from the the

1:19:40new Westboro, what's the name of your

1:19:41organization?

1:19:42>> Westboro Community Center

1:19:44Foundation.org.

1:19:45Yes.

1:19:46>> And they're going to be one month and I

1:19:49just talked to

1:19:51>> Patrick and we're going to I'm having

1:19:52the select men the following month. So

1:19:55getting ready for the big town meeting

1:19:57in March.

1:19:58>> Brilliant.

1:19:59>> Excellent.

1:20:02>> You're a rock star. [laughter]

1:20:05>> It's been fun.

1:20:05>> Didn't Oh, Aiden. I think Aiden or Tim

1:20:08told me one of one of Caroline shows had

1:20:11120 views.

1:20:12>> Yay.

1:20:12>> That was huge.

1:20:13>> Yeah. I I'm I'm trying desperately to

1:20:16get the word out. Um I am going to talk

1:20:19to you um off camera about the placement

1:20:24for me in the in this in the senior

1:20:26scene.

1:20:27>> Okay.

1:20:28>> And see if that helps. Um but I've

1:20:31generated a lot of energy in my

1:20:33community by sending out updates about

1:20:35it and how to get it on TV and on

1:20:38YouTube. And I'm hoping that we have a

1:20:43new member that's from Walker Meadow

1:20:45that we can get the information out to

1:20:47them.

1:20:47>> We promote the heck out of

1:20:48>> and we know you guys are doing great.

1:20:50So, yeah. [laughter]

1:20:52>> So, trying to get the numbers up.

1:20:56>> All good.

1:20:56>> Thanks.

1:20:58>> Okay. Um, thank you, Carol. Good job.

1:21:02Look forward to the next one. Um, we

1:21:06have some new members to the council. We

1:21:09have uh Jean Granfield.

1:21:11>> Granfield. Yeah.

1:21:12>> Um so welcome aboard.

1:21:15>> Thank you.

1:21:16>> I understand you've been on other

1:21:17committees.

1:21:18>> Well, right now I actually serve on the

1:21:21um active transportation safety

1:21:23committee.

1:21:24>> Okay.

1:21:26>> Well, welcome.

1:21:27>> Thank you.

1:21:28>> Um Doug, is it Wales or Walls?

1:21:31>> Wales.

1:21:31>> Wales.

1:21:32>> Like the country.

1:21:33>> Welcome.

1:21:34>> Thank you.

1:21:35>> Have you been on any other committees or

1:21:37in town? Uh I work in in the elections

1:21:41uh as a warden of a precinct board.

1:21:48>> Okay.

1:21:49>> Do we all want to

1:21:50>> which is a J.

1:21:53>> Um does everybody want to introduce

1:21:55themselves? I'm Diane Colin, chairman,

1:21:58current chair. Uh Guido is vice chair.

1:22:01>> Hi.

1:22:03>> Carol Mloud, the rockar.

1:22:05>> Rockstar. [laughter]

1:22:11Marilyn

1:22:12>> Marilyn Taylor.

1:22:15>> Oh, Bob.

1:22:16>> Bob Washford. Remember Tom?

1:22:18>> Hi.

1:22:18>> And you know Martha and M.

1:22:20>> We met you before.

1:22:22>> Exactly.

1:22:24>> And you know Kendra?

1:22:25>> Kendra. Yeah.

1:22:27>> Okay.

1:22:29>> Well, welcome aboard.

1:22:30>> Yes.

1:22:30>> Keep your seat belt on. [laughter]

1:22:33>> It is good to be here. We are uh in a

1:22:37time right now which will make some big

1:22:41change for Westboro.

1:22:42>> Big.

1:22:42>> We have a chance to uh create a

1:22:45community center that is welcoming for

1:22:48seniors and um and other members of West

1:22:53Bro. Um

1:22:55I'm delighted to be working here. So

1:22:58>> I know some of the pictures they showed.

1:23:00I can't wait.

1:23:03It's like incredible.

1:23:05>> Yeah.

1:23:06>> You know, and even that that uh large

1:23:08auditorium area, it's like you're going

1:23:10into a regular theater.

1:23:13>> Very impressive.

1:23:14>> Yeah.

1:23:15>> Very impressive.

1:23:18Okay. Um

1:23:20next thing on the list is elections.

1:23:23We've talked about that a few times over

1:23:26the past couple months and Gu and I um

1:23:30as you know we passed the uh we accepted

1:23:34the uh town handbook committee handbook

1:23:38as our guideline for election but it

1:23:40really doesn't give us any anything

1:23:41definitive. It says annual election

1:23:44basically. So Guer and I thought we'd

1:23:46like to kind of narrow that down to a

1:23:48more formalized process.

1:23:51>> [clears throat]

1:23:53>> So, uh, we'd like to suggest that we

1:23:57have the formal elections in June of

1:24:01every year. That way, the fiscal year is

1:24:03not July 1st, have it in June of the

1:24:05year, and then have but the previous

1:24:08month in May, have uh nominations so

1:24:12people can think about it ahead of time

1:24:14instead of taking up time in the June

1:24:16meeting to do that.

1:24:19Um so we're throwing that out there for

1:24:22discussion.

1:24:23>> Sure.

1:24:23>> Um and whoever is elected um so

1:24:28>> today as chair vice chair um the term

1:24:32would be September to June.

1:24:35>> I I think the problem with the June date

1:24:38would be that um terms end on July 1st.

1:24:43So if for some reason somebody was named

1:24:46chair and then not um reappointed, they

1:24:50would have been chair for a month and

1:24:52then you would have to rehold elections.

1:24:54So I would recommend not

1:24:56>> and most terms for membership is three

1:24:59years and they end July 1st.

1:25:03>> They end

1:25:05yes. So we were thinking that the the

1:25:08three normally three terms we have

1:25:10>> at the June meeting you'll already know

1:25:12whether people have reupted or not.

1:25:15That's so is the case. Great.

1:25:17>> Yeah. One of the things we talked about

1:25:18in a past meeting, it might have been a

1:25:20couple months now, but we talked about

1:25:22the idea that you with the potential for

1:25:26transition and membership as of July 1,

1:25:30that do you want the current body to be

1:25:32voting on who is chair versus the prior

1:25:36committees or council? So,

1:25:38>> I think it would make more sense. It

1:25:41>> that's just the way a number of boards

1:25:43and committees have chosen to look at it

1:25:45that they do it. Say that again.

1:25:47>> I So it would be

1:25:50>> July July 1st might come with a lot of

1:25:52transition. So if you were to hold

1:25:54elections in June and five of you left

1:25:58and there was five new members, the five

1:25:59that left would have taken part in the

1:26:01election and then not been on the

1:26:03committee. So it makes sense to hold off

1:26:05until the committee is like mostly

1:26:07reformed depending on who's coming and

1:26:10going. Um I would recommend having them

1:26:13in September because

1:26:16you um typically you know that gives you

1:26:20two months. Historically the council on

1:26:21aging has taken off one summer month so

1:26:23that would be August. So there would be

1:26:25no August meeting. Um so nominations

1:26:28could be made in at the July meeting and

1:26:30then voting would take place in

1:26:32September

1:26:34>> and then the term would be

1:26:36>> September to September.

1:26:37>> It's typically annual. only September.

1:26:40Oh,

1:26:40>> September to September. September. So,

1:26:42if you vote today, it would be next

1:26:44September that we would have another set

1:26:46of elections. So, the nominations would

1:26:48be made next July and then the voting

1:26:50would be September.

1:26:52>> Then you still have all the new people

1:26:54voting who might not know the people yet

1:26:55>> because they would have joined in July

1:26:57in theory. So, they would be

1:26:58[clears throat] here in July. So, they

1:26:59would have come to one meeting and then

1:27:01in September take part.

1:27:02>> But the reality is as we see the people

1:27:05come in at random time. Yes. some people

1:27:08will stop at the end of June when their

1:27:11term ends, but they don't necessarily

1:27:13get in place.

1:27:14>> I mean, it's up to the council, but I do

1:27:16think one of the considerations is the

1:27:20um one of the the things to think about

1:27:23because you have a chair and a vice

1:27:25chair is are you thinking of it in terms

1:27:28of the vice chair would likely in most

1:27:31scenarios step up to be the chair?

1:27:33That's that's also a structure that a

1:27:35number of our boards and committees

1:27:36follow because then you have somebody

1:27:39who's getting some exposure and then

1:27:41they're ready to step into the chair

1:27:43role and then you're you're sort of

1:27:45constantly building that sort of

1:27:47succession. So that's another

1:27:50consideration.

1:27:53In some cases that works well, in other

1:27:55cases it doesn't always pan out.

1:27:58We've had a situation here where we've

1:28:00had the same people for so long that it

1:28:03>> like I said a year ago, it really

1:28:05probably is time for a change

1:28:09at least.

1:28:10>> I mean, one of the problems with this

1:28:12particular board right now is that most

1:28:15of us are brand new,

1:28:17>> which makes it Yep.

1:28:18>> a [clears throat] little bit difficult.

1:28:20I mean, that's that's been very

1:28:22abnormal. My would be I would think

1:28:25right normally. Yeah.

1:28:27>> Yeah.

1:28:29>> And the other thing just so whomever

1:28:31knows if you're if you're interested,

1:28:33you know, there is support there's and

1:28:35this is again across the board with most

1:28:36of our boards and committees,

1:28:38particularly those that work very

1:28:39closely with staff. There's a lot of

1:28:41staff support in terms of help putting

1:28:44the agenda together, distributing the

1:28:46materials. So nobody's sort of left out

1:28:48there to take on that burden all on

1:28:50their own.

1:28:54>> Okay. So when do you want to have

1:28:55elections?

1:28:57There you go.

1:28:59[laughter] So either way, you've got say

1:29:01you have new people coming on that

1:29:03didn't vote for the ones that already

1:29:06there and conversely

1:29:10you want to have the new people to vote

1:29:12for the people that have been there. So

1:29:16perfectly clear. So if we did it based

1:29:20on the the recommendation from you guys

1:29:23is that um the nom the nominations are

1:29:27in July and the and the elections in

1:29:30September.

1:29:32I I think that's great, but what do we

1:29:34do this year?

1:29:35>> Exactly.

1:29:37>> You can do it now and you you can space

1:29:40it out over multiple meetings where you

1:29:42don't have to. You can do typically

1:29:45you you could do it all in one meeting

1:29:48and then the transition happens

1:29:50immediately. Um, whatever you choose to

1:29:52do, if you if people want to think about

1:29:54it and you do it at your next meeting,

1:29:57you can have you could have this chair

1:30:00serve until the end of the fiscal year.

1:30:02So through June and then you know in

1:30:05July get on the cycle of doing it in

1:30:07July. Whatever you decide you you can

1:30:10have sort of a shorter term.

1:30:11>> The same issue still have two interested

1:30:14to become member of co-op.

1:30:16>> We have two.

1:30:17>> Are you still interviewing or choosing?

1:30:19Yeah, there's still two openings.

1:30:21>> There's still two openings.

1:30:22>> No, I'm asking people who have expressed

1:30:25interest.

1:30:25>> We don't know when those will be filled.

1:30:27So, it could be like two more months.

1:30:29>> Likely by the next meeting they should

1:30:31be filled.

1:30:33>> So, we have prospects.

1:30:35>> Yes.

1:30:35>> Yes.

1:30:36>> Okay.

1:30:38>> There.

1:30:40>> I guess we have prospects.

1:30:41>> The term the current term ends in end of

1:30:44June.

1:30:46the appointment um appointments, the

1:30:48three-year appointments um typically

1:30:51they're staggered and dates so that you

1:30:54never have the full council turning over

1:30:57and the appointment period goes through

1:30:59June 30th.

1:31:00>> Often times when boards get together uh

1:31:04for [clears throat] an annual meeting of

1:31:06the board, they then hold an

1:31:08organizational meeting at the same time

1:31:10uh which were the elect officers of the

1:31:13board at that time. uh we have a lot of

1:31:16turnover in this board and we I know I

1:31:20need to get to know you guys and

1:31:22>> uh so I would say continue okay let's I

1:31:29suggest not voting today

1:31:32continue

1:31:34>> doesn't matter to me we could be into 27

1:31:36by the time we decide

1:31:38>> is there a job description for this

1:31:40position [laughter]

1:31:41>> no the chair's duties are laid out in

1:31:44both the committee handbook and mass

1:31:45general law.

1:31:46>> Oh, for committee chairs in general.

1:31:48Yes.

1:31:48>> Okay, got it.

1:31:49>> Yeah.

1:31:50>> Well, um, based on sort of what's going

1:31:54on with this, it's a big ask, but I

1:31:58mean, I like the July, September, but

1:32:01we're past that for this year. So is it

1:32:04possible for the chair and the vice

1:32:07chair to stay on until

1:32:10the cycle could be dealt with in when it

1:32:13in July

1:32:16the chair and the vice chair?

1:32:17>> Well, was [laughter] according to the

1:32:19committee book was supposed to have

1:32:20annual elections.

1:32:23>> So it

1:32:25would have to be this year have an

1:32:27election.

1:32:27>> The election would just be to keep

1:32:30>> Oh. to keep it the same. Yeah, that

1:32:31would be the election would just be to

1:32:33keep it the same.

1:32:33>> Have a December 31st. Happy New Year.

1:32:36>> That would be

1:32:37>> I mean that would be my recommendation.

1:32:39>> Is there a term limit for the chair and

1:32:42vice chair?

1:32:44>> Just back to the point this committee is

1:32:46in a unique situation where you have had

1:32:48a lot of turnover. So I think the

1:32:50recommendation is that there be annual

1:32:53appointments to those positions. I think

1:32:55in this situation you are fine if you

1:32:58were to proceed if your chair and vice

1:33:00chair were willing to continue and then

1:33:03to take it.

1:33:04>> That would be my question. Are you

1:33:06willing to continue as chair until the

1:33:09next

1:33:09>> She's she's her eyes are getting bigger

1:33:11and bigger [laughter]

1:33:13>> the next annual election that we

1:33:16>> Well, actually, we're only supposed to

1:33:18serve two consecutive years, right? In

1:33:21our position. I' I've never seen that. I

1:33:24also would only

1:33:28>> I don't believe so.

1:33:29>> I think if it is I think it's a it's a

1:33:31guideline and I think again this

1:33:33committee has had some

1:33:34>> Oh, it's not carved in stone even though

1:33:36it's in print.

1:33:37>> Yeah.

1:33:37>> And this this would just be the second

1:33:39consecutive year anyways.

1:33:42>> This this would be the second.

1:33:44>> Yes. So it either way even if it were a

1:33:47rule

1:33:48>> we could you would be within that

1:33:49>> till next whatever month you pick.

1:33:52>> Yes.

1:33:53>> Yes.

1:33:53>> Yes.

1:33:54>> You've only served one year correct?

1:33:56>> Yes.

1:33:56>> Yes.

1:33:57>> As of July?

1:33:58>> Yes. Yes.

1:33:59>> Right.

1:34:00>> So are you willing to continue?

1:34:04>> Are there any other nominations?

1:34:06[laughter]

1:34:07>> Well, I I'm a little confused about we

1:34:09went through this before.

1:34:12So you you take a vote. So the it's a

1:34:15motion to appoint someone to serve as

1:34:19the chair.

1:34:20>> But what if someone has no interest in

1:34:21being the chair? That's how I'm

1:34:23confused.

1:34:23>> You have to accept the nomination before

1:34:25it.

1:34:26>> Yeah. So

1:34:26>> often times the individual will express

1:34:29that they are not interested and then

1:34:31you could defeat the motion. So

1:34:34currently because of the situation and

1:34:36the turnover, I was recommending first

1:34:40that we take this vote to if these guys

1:34:43are willing to continue

1:34:46>> in their positions until July, next

1:34:48July, and then get on the schedule we're

1:34:51supposed to get on,

1:34:52>> just serve on two consecutive years and

1:34:55then have an election. How about that?

1:34:57>> So yes. So you guys have to make the

1:34:59motion.

1:35:00>> Make a motion. So

1:35:02>> you would I

1:35:03>> I make a motion to um remain with the

1:35:09current chair and vice chair of this

1:35:11committee and this board and to um also

1:35:17incorporate into our um rules and

1:35:21regulations going forward that we have

1:35:23our um nominations in July for chair and

1:35:28vice chair and the elections in

1:35:30September.

1:35:32That's fine. You don't have rules and

1:35:34regulations, but I think I think your

1:35:35intent is for your chair and your vice

1:35:37chair to continue for this fiscal year.

1:35:40>> Yes.

1:35:40>> So now you need to motion.

1:35:47>> Are you willing to go until July?

1:35:50>> I guess so.

1:35:51>> Okay.

1:35:52>> Oh, thank you.

1:35:53>> So you made the motion. Marilyn seconded

1:35:56it off for the vote.

1:35:59All those in favor.

1:36:01>> All those in favor.

1:36:02>> That's about it.

1:36:02>> Then we can talk into it next year.

1:36:06>> Okay. So, unanimous.

1:36:08>> And just to be

1:36:10>> anyone opposed Bob [laughter]

1:36:13he was delayed raising Caroline

1:36:17talk you into it. Sorry.

1:36:18>> Clear. If anything were to change, if

1:36:20circumstances were to change and

1:36:22somebody couldn't continue for any

1:36:24variety of reasons or was able to find

1:36:27someone who had an interest in stepping

1:36:28in, you can revisit this. There's

1:36:31nothing that says you can't take it up

1:36:34again because we've had that situation

1:36:36for

1:36:39>> you can find a willing victim. I mean,

1:36:41[laughter]

1:36:44>> we'll have to adjust that committee.

1:36:47I don't think it's as I think it's meant

1:36:49to be a guide and and I think you're

1:36:51well with it.

1:36:52>> Policy is a guideline, but it's written.

1:36:55>> It's a handful.

1:36:55>> So, I would just like to also say thank

1:36:58you. Thank you. Thank you. [laughter]

1:37:01Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

1:37:03>> Yes.

1:37:03>> I really because [applause]

1:37:06I don't know. I mean, you guys have been

1:37:08so supportive because you know what

1:37:10you're doing and you've been involved in

1:37:12this in this board and so it's been a

1:37:15learning experience for me and I

1:37:17appreciate

1:37:17>> Oh, thank you.

1:37:18>> I really really appreciate you guys.

1:37:23>> Awesome.

1:37:24>> I second that.

1:37:26[laughter]

1:37:28>> Okay.

1:37:29>> All right.

1:37:31Um, any other member questions or

1:37:34acknowledgements, dates that we should

1:37:36know of?

1:37:37>> Oh, the next meeting

1:37:40on that

1:37:42>> on future any future agenda topics,

1:37:46>> do we still want to have a library

1:37:48someone from the library to speak to us

1:37:50about how they get to you? Yes.

1:37:53>> Do you still want to do that?

1:37:56Otherwise, I'll take it off with this.

1:37:57>> Yes, I can. I at when I originally

1:38:02proposed it, I thought it had some

1:38:05value, but a lot of times passed since

1:38:08then.

1:38:08>> Yeah.

1:38:09>> That's why I keep asking.

1:38:10>> If I may,

1:38:12>> if I may. Yeah.

1:38:14>> Um, the chair. So,

1:38:18yes, the timing has been challenging

1:38:20because, as I think most of you know,

1:38:21the library is completing the renovation

1:38:23and moving back this month. So, um, I

1:38:27spoke to the chair of the library

1:38:31trustees who has been very involved in

1:38:33this for the past many years and she is

1:38:37definitely willing to come and talk

1:38:39about um kind of things that went well,

1:38:42things that were challenging, just what

1:38:44to expect about the process.

1:38:46>> That would be perfect.

1:38:47>> Okay. her request was they're trying to

1:38:50get through wrapping up what they're

1:38:52doing and just availability wise later

1:38:55this year would be better.

1:38:57>> So, do you think October number?

1:38:59>> I told her I'd check back in. I

1:39:02>> tight holiday time.

1:39:04>> I know they're moving back in October.

1:39:06So, I I don't know. It was just a matter

1:39:09of scheduling. I think there's still

1:39:11value and I think she's more than

1:39:12willing. It's just a matter of

1:39:14scheduling and she works during the day.

1:39:16So, we might need to look at a little

1:39:18bit later meeting.

1:39:20>> I won't mention again until you mention

1:39:21it. How's that?

1:39:22>> Yeah. No, I think we've talked about it.

1:39:25Just we thought timing wise um

1:39:28>> I think the priority right now is the

1:39:30work that we're doing with the

1:39:31architects to get the project and then

1:39:33once I think there's some timing wise I

1:39:36think we're still good to hear from her

1:39:38even if it's a couple months from now.

1:39:40>> Okay. Thank you.

1:39:41>> Yeah. But there's definitely a

1:39:42willingness and an interest to share.

1:39:45The only other thing I had was I took a

1:39:48shot at revising the town report that

1:39:50goes on the town

1:39:52from the council.

1:39:54>> Yeah, you sent it out to us.

1:39:55>> So, yeah. So, I didn't know it's a

1:39:58draft.

1:39:59>> Yeah.

1:40:02>> I sent you back a shorter version.

1:40:04>> Wait a minute, Diane. Why were you

1:40:06sending out thought? You shouldn't send

1:40:08stuff out to them to send back to you.

1:40:11>> Okay.

1:40:11>> I did it BCC.

1:40:15But they Yeah, you can't you can't do

1:40:18that. I It would have to come through

1:40:19me.

1:40:20>> Okay, I'll send it to you.

1:40:22>> Yes. Yeah,

1:40:23>> it's just a draft. I'm just going to

1:40:25because it's in the town report and our

1:40:27names are on it. So, I figured I

1:40:29>> The annual town report's written by

1:40:30staff, not by you guys.

1:40:32>> Okay. But

1:40:33>> it says,

1:40:37>> right, but it's it's

1:40:39>> Yes, it's written by staff. So, it's not

1:40:41it's not up to

1:40:42>> I was just tweeting.

1:40:43>> Yes, it's not.

1:40:44>> I can't do that as chair.

1:40:46>> No.

1:40:48>> So, can we put this on can we put this

1:40:50on the agenda for for next month's and

1:40:53have

1:40:53>> apparently

1:40:54>> Kendra send out what she's supposed to

1:40:56send out?

1:40:57>> Yes. And it wouldn't be the same

1:40:59anyways. But no, you can't send

1:41:00documents and ask for comments and then

1:41:03have them email you the comments. I

1:41:06would have to do it and they would send

1:41:07them to me directly. You can't do that

1:41:09as the chair.

1:41:11>> Yeah, because that's like having a

1:41:12meeting.

1:41:12>> Exactly.

1:41:13>> That's

1:41:14>> Well, that's why I didn't I didn't I BCC

1:41:18so nobody would be talking to each

1:41:19other.

1:41:20>> But they're you're one of them. So by

1:41:23them talking to you about it, we can't

1:41:25do that.

1:41:26>> So I can't write anything. Sorry.

1:41:29>> You're never going to

1:41:31So the annual report is written by

1:41:33staff. It's not written by the the

1:41:35council members. I think you guys are

1:41:37acknowledged there, but it's written by

1:41:39>> Can I show you what I wrote?

1:41:41>> But it it will also be different for

1:41:43next year. So there

1:41:44>> No, I'm just talking about the verbiage

1:41:46in the beginning. I'm not talk you do

1:41:47all the stats and everything. I'm just

1:41:49talking about the verbiage in the

1:41:51beginning.

1:41:53>> Mission or whatever you say the mission

1:41:56statement for the council and then the

1:41:59mission statement

1:42:00>> discussing this together and the mission

1:42:04statement is a motion to adjourn. Well,

1:42:06no. We have a date.

1:42:09>> Need a date for the next meeting because

1:42:11the second Monday is

1:42:13>> Well, October 12th is a holiday.

1:42:16>> So, I'm thinking October 19th.

1:42:18>> I won't be here, but proceed.

1:42:20>> Is that a bad day?

1:42:22>> Have to check the schedule.

1:42:24>> 19th, I believe, Tammy will be in here.

1:42:26So, we might want to look at a different

1:42:28Monday.

1:42:29>> A different Monday.

1:42:30>> Um or a different location.

1:42:32>> Oh, a different location.

1:42:35Tammy will

1:42:36>> just leave that up to Kendra to resolve.

1:42:38>> Yes.

1:42:40>> For us.

1:42:42>> I think that the 26th would be a better

1:42:45Monday, which is the last Monday in

1:42:46October.

1:42:47>> Yeah.

1:42:48>> Is October 25. Okay. With everybody

1:42:53Monday.

1:42:53>> 25th is a Sunday.

1:42:55>> 26th.

1:42:55>> Yeah, I can do that.

1:42:57>> Yeah. Mhm.

1:43:01>> So, taking aside the fact that she sent

1:43:04this out, it should I still think it's a

1:43:07good idea for us to pay it. So,

1:43:10>> the mission statement is drafted by the

1:43:12Council on Aging and voted on by the

1:43:14Council on Aging. So, in order to change

1:43:16it, it would take a vote of the whole

1:43:17council and it would have to be on the

1:43:19agenda,

1:43:19>> but it would have to be a discussion.

1:43:21So, that that is something that

1:43:23>> I was going to present that later. So

1:43:25can we do this at at the next month's

1:43:27meeting

1:43:32>> in the proper way?

1:43:33>> That there is the report the town.

1:43:36>> I'm never going to get on.

1:43:40>> All right.

1:43:45>> It's you have to

1:43:47>> you have to

1:43:48>> you have to take a vote to adjurnn.

1:43:50>> Oh, I thought I did.

1:43:51>> Nope.

1:43:52>> Yeah.

1:43:53>> You said the next meeting. You have to

1:43:54take over and he put his hand right up.

1:44:00>> Doug