The problem is that we don’t have any solid numbers. We do not know our
current usage and we lack any sensible projections for future
state/growth. How do we know if we’re building the right size for now or
for the future?
One thing we do know is that towns the same size or much bigger than ours
in total population (not just seniors) are building community centers
smaller than what we are proposing. Bear in mind that these towns also have
tax bills lower than Lincoln's yet are being more modest with the burden
they’re asking their citizens to carry.
If we push our town's and residents' finances to the limit on a single
building, there will be little left over to actually fund valuable programs
and services.
The residents of this town are being presented with another FALSE CHOICE.
Previously, residents voted for our oversized new school because the old
school was in bad shape and was presented to the town as we
either repair the old school which wasn't sensible or build a new school.
Like the school building project, we need a new Council on Aging. But,
do we need the new building at the Hartwell campus?
At Hartwell, I have many concerns.
1) COA will only be able to use the building from
9-2:30 M,Tu,Th,Fri and Wed 9-1 to minimize the possibility of traffic
related accidents/issues.
2) No one has shown how many parking spots will be left after
all the school employees, school visitors/parents, Magic Garden employees,
Leap employees, and tennis players park their cars during the day. What is
the maximum number of seniors that can even attend COA programming based
upon available parking? The building they are proposing is being sized to
serve 85+ people at one time (my guess: Staff 5, Volunteers 5, Dining 50,
other rooms 25+). Even if my numbers are a bit high, I am trying to make
the point that building a new facility with limited hours and parking
doesn't seem like a good plan. Most people drive in Lincoln to events, to
think otherwise is silly at this point.
If we want a real community center, I would renovate the Pierce House, add
a wing with handicap bathrooms, offices, meeting rooms, AND repurpose
the large open fields as soccer/play fields. The town needs additional
fields and every Saturday, the 250+ families in town who use the sports
fields could get together and enjoy the new Pierce House. To me, that
sounds like a better Community Center than what is being proposed.
Peter Buchthal
71 Weston Rd
On Fri, Sep 22, 2023 at 8:02 AM john gregg via Lincoln <
lincoln@lincolntalk.org> wrote:
> The important numbers to be concerned about are realizing a Community
> Center is used by all ages, COA is just part of the programs. LEAP, Magic
> Garden as well as Parks and Rec programs which can be provided at a
> community center base.
>
> I have heard the talk about the cost and the burden is due to the School
> Project, replacing the school was needed. It is important to remember that
> the original cost from Lincoln was rejected on a Town vote which included
> @50% from the State, it would have been an out of pocket expense of @$25
> Million. It then re-applied and was rejected and eventually cost the Town
> @$93 Million of a well NEEDED school. So when saying a school is the reason
> why the Town cannot afford a Community Center it is actually the vote to
> reject State subsidized financial aid.
>
> This financial aid would be to replace a school that was not functional
> for education and hazardous to the children and staff who had leaky
> ceilings, overflowing toilets, an outdated infrastructure, systems and
> layout for education where the Town of Lincoln pays one of the highest
> amounts per student. Building the school makes the Town of Lincoln more
> attractive to new buyers who want things like a functioning school and
> things like a Community Center.
>
> Please see the below from the Lincoln Squirrel to document the school
> debate:
>
> Four years earlier, the MSBA offered to pay $21 million toward a new
> school costing $49 million if residents agreed by a two-thirds majority to
> fund their share. But the margin at a Special Town Meeting in November
> 2012 was 370-321 votes (54 percent to 45 percent), so the funding offer was
> withdrawn and the town had to begin the process all over again. The MSBA
> also declined to offer funding in 2013 and 2015. At Town Meeting in March
> 2016
> <https://www.lincolnsquirrel.com/residents-vote-to-try-for-school-funding-again/>,
> residents overwhelmingly approved the latest application to the MSBA.
>
> In 2014, consultants Dore and Whittier determined that the school
> needed immediate work costing $8.4 million
> <https://www.lincolnsquirrel.com/school-needs-at-least-27-5m-even-without-cafeterias-architects-say/>
> including
> a new roof for the entire building, a new exterior wall for the Reed Gym,
> and a new boiler room and pumping equipment for the Smith
> building. However, even if residents approved funding for that work, the
> town would have to spend several million dollars more, because by state
> law, when school renovation costs exceed a certain percentage of the
> building’s assessed value, the building must also be brought up to current
> code for handicapped accessibility. For the Lincoln School, the trigger
> point in 2014 was about $6.5 million.
>
> Meeting only the immediate and near-term facilities needs of the school
> with no educational improvements or cafeteria would cost more than $27
> million, the consultants said, while a comprehensive project meeting all
> facilities and educational needs would cost almost $60 million.
> State says no to Lincoln school funding for the third time
> <https://lincolnsquirrel.com/2016/12/state-says-no-to-lincoln-school-funding-for-the-third-time/>
>
> State says no to Lincoln school funding for the third time
>
>
> <https://lincolnsquirrel.com/2016/12/state-says-no-to-lincoln-school-funding-for-the-third-time/>
>
>
>
> Thank You,
> John Gregg
>
> On Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 04:46:32 PM EDT, Colleen Katsuki <
> coll...@shadowtracks.org> wrote:
>
>
> The COA has given the town maximum and minimum numbers for elder uses
> of the current programs, but this really tells us nothing. We need mean
> or average uses for these programs. Otherwise we are basing substantial
> town financial decisions on an unknown.
>
>
> As an elder, I am only able to afford to stay in Lincoln by renting
> rooms and teaching piano. The town needs to be frugal after the
> profligate school expense.
>
>
> Colleen Katsuki
>
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