Senior Center to be taken over by private company
Published on March 12th, 2008
STONEHAM -- Departing Senior Center Director Jane Lavender last week applauded efforts to shift the management of the Elm Street facility over to a locally situated non-profit organization.
During last week's Selectmen meeting, Lavender, who will retire this summer, heralded the proposed Senior Center management take-over by Stoneham's Community Service Network, Inc.
In a symbolic vote, the Selectmen later also unanimously endorsed the shift in management to the private group, which has been in existence for nearly two-and-a-half decades.
"It's very well respected Stoneham-based agency," said Lavender. "This is, we feel, a win-win for the town. This would be an improvement to the services to the seniors at no cost to the town."
"Today, I had an elder in my office who I had run out of fuel in his home," the Melrose resident explained. "And Community Service Network was the only agency that could help us immediately. He'll be getting fuel tomorrow."
Earlier this year, Town Administrator David Ragucci first floated the possibility of having a non-profit assume control of the day-to-day operations of the Elm Street facility.
According to Ragucci, he believed that with the change, Stoneham could save most, if not all of the $160,000 appropriation slated for the Senior Center each year.
Based on the most current proposal, which still needs to be approved by the non-profit's board of directors, Community Service Network would lease the property from the town for a period of at least ten-years.
The town would still maintain ownership of the Senior Center and the land it sits upon, while the organization would be responsible for maintaining the building and providing the same level of services to local citizens.
In exchange, Stoneham would commit to paying up to $30,000 annually for the next three years in order to help foot the facility's utility bills.
"When we first broached this topic, they were concerned about what type of funding commitment they could make [initially after taking over]," Ragucci explained. "What I thought we would offer is that we would give Community Service Network $30,000 for three years. After that, they would be on their own."
Veteran Selectman Robert Sweeney later sought assurances that the programs and services that presently exist at the Senior Center would remain intact, and cost-free, if a charge is currently not associated with those offerings.
According to Lavender, she was sure that the Senior Center would be better off with the non-profit operating the programs, as it would be able to tap currently unavailable revenue sources and staff the building at greater levels than currently exist.
In addition, the Senior Center director assured the public that the private organization would be able to make a stronger commitment to maintenance and capital repairs, which are currently being somewhat neglected due to funding difficulties.
"Because community service is a non-profit, it opens a world of opportunity for grants. I've pulled several grants that they could apply for immediately," said Lavender, explaining that municipalities are limited in what outside revenue sources they can apply for.
According to Selectmen Paul Rotondi and John DePinto, they believed that any agreement with Community Service Network should include some type of formal ties with the Council on Aging.
In particular, the pair argued that there should be some provision that ensures that town officials will maintain its ability to set and direct policy.
"I think the key is that you have to give the community, and not just the seniors, the satisfaction that it is still our building and that it's still our moral responsibility to provide these services for our seniors. You need that link," Rotondi maintained.
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