Elaine, -Just re-read this…cheers, cheers! Thank you Seth and others for bringing up the community center. It’s something I have been discussing with other youngish seniors (LSRHS class of 1971)and have a number of concerns. Although I don’t yet use the senior senior, and do think one with an elevator is important, I’m not sure how many older adults in town use it regularly. In my cohort, there is a greater worry about high property taxes and whether we can afford to continue to pay them if a community center is built.
“If you build it they will come” (https://www.lincolntown.org/documentcenter/view/35385) Is this true, particularly with ongoing concerns about covid and availability of classes and meetings on Zoom? There are few offerings for adults through the Rec Department. Is that from lack of space or lack of interest? Most people I know go out of town for programs. I’m not happy with the design which appears to have a lot of wasted space in its “open concept”. With heating prices going up, how much will it cost to heat this big building? I also think the world has changed since 2017 when this community center was first discussed. I would rather the town spend its money on mixed income housing, for example, which it needs. And, Lincoln’s older homebound adults could stay in their homes if they had more services paid for by the town. This would be a good use of money for seniors. Lastly, if an expensive community center must be built, can we at the same time look at allowing more Lincoln homes to build accessory apartments and backyard cottages? This would help seniors pay their higher taxes, and stay in their large homes while benefiting non-high income folks looking for Lincoln housing. Elaine All your points and questions are valid, and the questions remained unanswered. I have repeatedly asked the COA to do some sort of (professional) survey to figure out what programs would attract you and your peers. The silence, in response, is deafening. They are not frothing coming with those who are actually attending what programs are offered. I go to an exercise class2X/week-I love it but there are never more than 5 of us there. All this is subsidized by our tax dollars and contributions of the Friends of the COA. The space in the basement of Bemis is completely unused-now we are told it is used by organizations that are simply using closets for storage, next to a boiler. I knwo because I am Pres. Of the Historical Society and am down there to collect things out of storage. And, numerous people for the Girl Scouts say they have never used that space! So, what are they basing needs and numbers on? This entire exercise is alarming-divisive and may cost many their ability to remain in town. We (over) build to serve a population that is forced/elects to move due to increasing taxes. And, there is the dodge and weave over operating budgets-new teachers contracts will require a significant increase due to cost of living. Town offices is going through a run-over and is hiring 2 to replace one. We have to hire to fill the volunteer position Jim Cunningham volunteered for-AV for every org and entity in town-tapes and recorded everything! COA says it will need an increase of 1.5 FTEs for the new building. We are now at the upper limit of our budgets, without an over-ride. To fund at level service, going forward, we will need an over-ride which will be a permanent tax increase. Why cannot we, at a minimum, hit a pause button to re-evaluate and consider some new ideas? The money they want to spend now is looking at only one dimension of a multi-dimensioned issue. Yikes! Sara ------ Sara Mattes
-- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to Lincoln@lincolntalk.org. Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln.
