The Building, Planning and Construction Committee last night endorsed the full-size design for a new Senior Center requested by the Council on Aging, turning discussion toward how the town will pay for the building.
The design for a 20,600-square-foot building includes a physical fitness center and is estimated to cost around $8.6 million.
Last week architect Bradley Dore unveiled a 15,800-square-foot design with a $6.8 million estimated price tag that eliminated the fitness center and cut space from three other rooms. The committee had asked for a slimmed-down design earlier this month to see if a less-expensive option would be viable.
But last night the committee agreed with the Council on Aging that a smaller Senior Center may not be able to accommodate the town's expanding senior population and voted unanimously for the larger building.
"I would hope the committee looks at the ramifications of downsizing," said William Gorman, representing the Conservation Commission on the building committee. "Norwood has had to expand their center and the costs do not go down over the long term."
Before the committee voted on the project's size, Town Administrator William Keegan presented a report detailing how much the town could spend on the Senior Center without going to voters to increase property taxes.
Keegan said the town could borrow up to $4.2 million to pay for the project without seeking a Proposition 2 1/2 debt exclusion from voters. He said the town could anticipate $800,000 in grant money from the state, leaving it $3.6 million short.
To make up the gap, the town could go to voters for $3.6 million or pay for the whole $8.6 million in debt exclusion, which would raise property taxes temporarily, Keegan said.
"These options have been done in different communities throughout the commonwealth," Keegan said. "Less common is the combination of the two methods."
The funding decision will not be made by the Building, Planning and Construction Committee, but by the Board of Selectmen. Both borrowing and debt exclusion would need to be approved at a Town Meeting and debt exclusion would also need to be approved on a general election ballot.
Committee member and selectmen Chairman Carmen DelloIacono last night said he would prefer to see all Senior Center funding decided by residents.
"I am confident in the voters," DelloIacono said. "I am confident there is no group against it and voters would vote for the debt exclusion."
DelloIacono said borrowing $4.2 million for a specific project without asking for approval from voters set a precedent that would encourage every group interested in a building project to ask for similar borrowing.
Director of Finance Mariellen Murphy said if the town borrowed $4.2 million for the center, the money would be unavailable for other projects for another five to 10 years.
Council on Aging member John Caruso said no matter how the town decides to fund the project, the vote to endorse the larger building is an important step. He said the council would now start fundraising to try to make up the gap between what the town could borrow and what the center will cost.
"The vote was crucial," Caruso said. "Now we can get things going."
Daily news staff writer Patrick Anderson can be reached at 781-433-8336 or by e-mail at panderso@cnc.com.
