Council Votes Down Improvements To Groton Senior Center

The Town Council on Tuesday rejected three improvements to the Groton Senior Center that would have cost $200,000.

The requests included a set of power doors to assist elderly people entering the community room, humidity control devices to minimize moisture and a generator to fully power the building in the event of a power failure. The generator would have been the most expensive, at a cost of about $180,000.

The project would have been financed through bonds.

“Is it a need?” Town Councilor Deborah Peruzzotti said. “Or is it a want?”

Councilors defeated the project by a vote of 4-4, with 1 member absent. Councilors Peruzzotti, Bruce Flax, Dean Antipas and Bill Johnson voted against the improvements.

The main concern about spending focused on the generator.

Town Councilor Bruce Flax said given the town’s financial outlook, he wasn't  comfortable spending $180,000 for a generator to fully power the center.

“I’m trying to make a choice,” he said. “I mean, I support the senior center, I’m just trying to make a choice with the money we have to spend.”

The senior center opened in March 2010 and cost about $8 million to build. The town authorized $11 million for it, but didn't spend it all. Because of this, the town would not have needed new approval to OK the debt.

However, Town Manager Mark Oefinger said the money is not in the bank and would have to be borrowed.

Mayor Heather Bond Somers said the senior center needs all three additions; power doors for elderly people who can’t open doors, humidity control to prevent mold, and a generator to provide shelter for residents.

“We have experience with our schools,” she said. “We have to maintain (buildings) the best that we can so that they will last.”

Oefinger said the town learned after Tropical Storm Irene that it needs a place for people to stay cool and power up electronic devices.

“This is an improvement that will be around for 20 or 30 years,” he said.

The senior center has a generator that provides minimal power in the event of an outage. The proposal would have created a larger source to power the whole building.