With the creation of the Community Services department, which merges the Council on Aging, Recreation Department, and Veterans Services, comes a plan to re-envision the physical space at the Beech Street Center.
The concept, in general, involves merging the staff for each branch without encroaching on any of the public-facing senior services of the Beech Street Center, such as the front desk or the lobby, where many come and go for meal pick-up or senior programming. The revised office plan, therefore, includes the construction of a door at the rear of the building to create an entrance for a recreation-only front desk.
According to Select Board Vice-Chair Matt Taylor, who serves as a liaison between the two boards, the expected cost of such a project would be roughly $30,000 in fiscal year 2025.
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To counter that cost, the Recreation Department’s departure from the Homer Building at the Town Hall complex creates space for the Retirement Board, which is currently occupying offices on Concord Avenue, to move in after its current lease lapses. Select Board Chair Elizabeth Dionne recently said the board’s move to Town Hall will save the town as much as $40,000 annually in rent.
“In my mind, this is a significant win-win,” she said.
Construction at the Beech Street Center would need to take place in June, according to Community Services Director Brandon Fitts. Taylor said the process is expected to take about two weeks.
On Wednesday, April 23, at 4 p.m., the public will have one more chance to offer feedback on the Community Service Department’s proposal. The public forum will take place at the Beech Street Center, with a hybrid option. On Wednesday, April 30, the council plans to hold a remote meeting to vote on the proposal.
Council on Aging member Maryann Scali pointed out the importance of transparency.
“The more seniors that have input on this, I think, is important.”
In general, members had concerns for the flow of foot traffic at the center — ideally to be alleviated by the separate entrance—parking, and the timeline for the move, particularly with library staff still on site until the end of the year, at which point the new library opens and its staff can begin their transition into the building. COA member Joel Semuels expressed concern that the space would be congested with the library staff there as well as the Community Services Department staff.
As for the timeline, Town Administrator Patrice Garvin explained that the lease for the Retirement Board is set to expire in October, and the town wants to ensure the Facilities Department has ample time to relocate multiple offices before then. Taylor noted that exterior work is more dependent on the weather and thus needs to be completed before the ground freezes.
“It works out really nicely to have the overlap during the summer months, because [Recreation staff is] off at Underwood Pool, we’re off at the schools,” added Fitts. “September might be a little clunky, but October is when [library staff are] going to start moving out.”
As for parking, Garvin said the Engineering Department would address the concerns raised by the council.
Council on Aging members also emphasized a desire for increased evening programming and weekend access to the center in light of the changes. Fitts assured that with all programming in one place, both for recreation and seniors, the possibility of expanding hours was not out of the question.
“This change is happening,” said COA member Andrea Paschal. “We were pretty much on board with it, having our concerns addressed, as Brandon and others were developing the plan. I think in the long run it’s going to be a good thing.”