This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

Senior Center a Go; Frustrated Mayor Says Lakeville 'Deserves Better'

Contentious vote clears the way for vacant police station renovation into new senior center.

The Lakeville City Council gave a begrudging green light Monday night to plans that would for use by the , and organizations. The 3-2 vote followed a lengthy and contentious debate and an effort by to table the issue.

The split vote echoed conflicting input council members say they have received from the community over the building’s fate. And while supportive seniors expressed relief that they would soon be able to move from their cramped current downtown location, issues still remained over how long the renovated building would meet Lakeville senior needs.

Bellows said he was “ashamed and embarrassed” by the process employed by supporters in moving the project forward and didn’t hide his frustration with the desire to purpose the building for the three organizations.

Find out what's happening in Lakevillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“My position has always been to and I believe that view represents the majority of residents in this community as well,” said Bellows. “Ultimately, my belief is that this is a very challenging facility, that this is an inadequate facility without significant investment. I am not convinced that the new center is going to address the needs of the seniors. I don’t think we’ve been very visionary in that process.”

Bellows said Lakeville seniors and the community “deserve better.”

Find out what's happening in Lakevillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Mayor has advocated for selling the building to pay down some of the city’s $85 million in debt or repurpose the building for a liquor store after the city’s Heritage location lease expires next year. The city would have to acquire land estimated at $1.2 million for a new liquor store in addition to construction costs. Already having the land and a suitable building “makes sense” for that use, said Bellows.

But it was supporters of moving the senior center into the building that won out.

Jeannine Anderson, a Lakeville senior who lives next door to the current senior center, told the council the current facility is too crowded. “People are getting discouraged,” said Anderson. “We do need it, we need it very badly and we need it soon.”

The vote clears the way for detailed architectural plans to be drawn up for the renovation. Funding for the project will come from the sale of the current senior center, possible grants and fundraising efforts to make the project tax neutral.

Initial plans will more than double the available space and call for a variety of meeting rooms, a game room, exercise room and a large room capable of seating 250 people for meals. The historical society would also be able to spread out and gain better access for seniors and other visitors for its displays. The Yellow Ribbon group would maintain an office and have access to the exercise and game rooms during some evenings.

Parks and Recreation director Steve Michaud who has worked closely with the organizations in developing the plans, said the new facility would be able to address the needs of seniors for at least the next ten years. There is room on the property for future expansion.

The uncertainty of current detailed plans and how long the building will be viable also earned a “no” vote from council member Colleen Ratzlaff-Labeau.

“I am so far from being against seniors,” said Labeau. “My concern is the process. I want to make sure we’re not voting for something and then have to vote for something different down the road.”

Labeau expressed frustration over the “piece-meal” nature of the plan, something she said she was not used to in her professional real estate business, and would have liked to have seen more concrete proposals earlier in the process to alleviate her concerns that the project may veer off course at some point.

Council member Matt Little said there was uncertainty in almost everything the council votes on.

“This has been a plan and there are many details about this,” said Little. “Unless we have a crystal ball somewhere in the parks and rec department, we’re not going to have all the answers. There is calculated risk and we’re basing it on our educated opinions.”

Little said he would be “amazed” if estimates for the project were “wildly off the mark.”

Council member Kerrin Swecker, who earlier this year advocated to put the property on the market as of July, said she was voting for the project because it fulfills a need now.

“I think seniors deserve a premier facility, but today is not that time,” said Swecker. “It’s not perfect, but I think it’s very good for what the needs are today.”

Swecker said the ability for future expansion could provide a progression that could allow the facility to grow into a premier facility.

Council member Laurie Reib said it was now up to staff and those involved to “figure out the best possible plan and make it the best possible place.”

Both Bellows and Labeau said they have heard from “many, many” people in the community that were against the plan and only a few that were for it, but the debate was won by supporters of the project that turned out en masse at the numerous work sessions and council meetings where the project was discussed.

After attempts to table and block a vote were unsuccessful, Bellows again railed against the project.

“I’m not going to hide my frustration over this,” said Bellows. “This community is not united. I would like to see a united community so that we can move forward and say ‘I feel good about being behind this senior center’ and folks, you don’t have that right now. But if you want to move forward, that’s what we’re going to do.”

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Lakeville