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1. How does the need for a senior center fit with other town needs such as clean water, sewage, shoreline protection, North Scituate development, etc.

   • We anticipate the Comprehensive Master Plan will address these other issues.  In the meantime, the Board of Selectmen correctly chose a compromised option that satisfies senior needs while leaving on the table money for future projects.  The compromise chosen reduces immediate expenditures from $20M to $12.2M.
      

2. How much does the town spend directly on seniors?

   • Town Meeting appropriated Council on Aging $202,123 for 8,892 seniors (55+), or about $23 per senior.  In comparison, Town Meeting appropriated $39,297,063 for 3,003 school age residents, or about $13,086 per school age resident.
      

3. How much do seniors contribute to the town’s budget?

   • Town Meeting appropriated a budget of $79,403,961.  Seniors make up 48% of the town, so seniors contribute approximately $38M to the town budget.
      

4. What is the operating budget per resident?

   • $79,403,961 for 18,666 residents is $4254 per resident.
      

5. What are plans for the Gates Building?

   • The “C” wing (cinder block) will be demolished.  The majority of “A” wing is currently used by the Recreation Department.  Future uses of the “B” wing has been widely discussed, including the possibility of town hall or senior housing. The Gates Building is no longer under the control of the school committee, who turned the property over to the town when it was vacated.  The proposed senior center does not prevent development of Gates “B” for these or other purposes.  The choice for use of Gates “B” is subject to more study beyond this project.  This project provides for much needed repair to Veterans’ Memorial Gym roof, handicap bathrooms, and ADA elevator access.
      

6. Do the seniors need a new center?

   • Participation in the Council on Aging programs would increase if the building allowed for additional programming and was more welcoming.  Current participation in activities is 1,175 seniors.  Experiences in neighboring towns suggest that number could double or more if not limited by the current building and programming.  Some Scituate seniors go to neighboring COAs for programming that Scituate is unable to provide.  Please see the website link for a detailed needs description.
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7. How are senior programs multigenerational?

   • Some examples of inter- or multi-generational programming at the COA includes an ongoing relationship with SHS Interact Club students who provide technology instruction along with an annual dinner/game night activity, 1-on-1 support for iPad learning program, and storm preparedness ‘sand bucket’ deliveries; COA Pickle-ball players have played with high school students during their gym periods; activities and projects with Girl Scout troops and middle school students; and entertainment provided by young musicians.  Grandparents have been encouraged to bring their grandchildren to family movies during vacation weeks, and activities have been designed around SEF Passport days for pre-school students.  More diverse programming will be available with proximity of the Recreation Department, and programs with the schools are always sought for their many advantages for both groups.
      

8. Have traffic concerns been addressed?

   • Traffic studies underway have contributed to the site design and will continue to inform future improvements to the area for walkability and accessibility for all users.  Additional modifications are possible, and as a result of neighbor’s concerns exiting onto First Parish may be controlled and other egress is being explored in order to provide a comprehensive answer to long-standing concerns for the town at and around this site. 
      

9. What mitigates the impact on abutters?

   • The building footprint has been moved further (to 130 feet) from the property line making a larger buffer between abutters and the facility.  The exterior lighting plan will consider abutters’ needs, and attractive fencing and foliage has been included in the plan.  The design of the entrance-side of the building was made to blend into a residential neighborhood and the campus side to consider the gymnasium and the character of Gates “B” wing and Cudworth House/landmark.
      

10. Why was the Purple Dinosuar site not chosen?

    • Site has limited size and difficult topography.  High density neighborhood and a very popular existing playground. It is isolated and hinders the development of a campus concept.
       

11. Why was the site behind the library not chosen?

    • Traffic concerns, development near or in wetlands, and greater site development costs. Great reduction of green space. Possible overdevelopment with other projects currently in development.
       

12. Why was the Driftway site not chosen?

    • Complications such as Housing Authority control, traffic, isolation from other town resources such as Recreation and Town Departments.  It also hinders development of the campus concept.
       

13. Why not the Pier 44 (Community Building)?

    1. Quoting Jim Hunt:  The characteristics of Pier 44 are immaterial. The deed restriction on the property absolutely prohibits any use of the property other than "public access, park and waterfront access" uses. Even the current use as a sometimes "community center" are not allowed by the deed restriction. 
        

14. Why was Plan “A,” for which the town allocated $1M from town meeting last year, not chosen?

    • There was significant opposition to the demolition of Gates “B” wing.  Some believe there is value in the building and that repurposing Gates “B” should be studied further.  The selectmen also questioned the feasibility of proposing a $20M project when a $12.2M project would meet senior needs.  This project provided an opportunity to address demolition concerns while considering priority of a senior center.
       

15. Why couldn’t Gates be renovated into a workable senior center?

    •  A primary issue is cost.  In March 2018 Town Administrator Boudreau estimated the cost at +/- $30M.  Unknowns include asbestos, etc.  The Adaptive Building Re-Use (2016) report lists problems including floor to floor height, column spacing, need for an addition anyway to house the multipurpose room and additional space needs to work around existing structures.  The study concludes that trying to fit the senior center into the existing building would cost at least as much or more as a new separate building while posing significant disadvantages.  The current architect was also asked to review the structure for re-use and conclusions ranged from height of windows, need to replace every workable fixture, and obsolescence of all environmental systems to inappropriateness of hall, doorway and level changes for the target population.
      https://www.scituatema.gov/sites/scituatema/files/file/file/db_programming_and_conceptual_design.pdf
       

16. Why now?

    • The 2014 Public Facilities Master Plan listed the following priorities: Library, Middle School, Public Safety Complex, and Gates Renovation for Senior Center, Town Hall, School Administration, and Recreation Department.  As the other projects have completed, the Gates campus is next in line.  https://www.scituatema.gov/sites/scituatema/files/pages/facilities_master_plan_final_0.pdf
       

17. Is this really a campus?

    • In 2016, the Adaptive Building Re-Use Committee was perhaps the first to call the Gates development a municipal or town center “campus.” The recommendation for the senior center was for it to be a standalone building behind Gates. The existing Gates building would be town and school offices and Recreation Department. Much of “A” and all of “C” wings would be demolished.
       

    • The proposed project is a low cost first stage in development of that campus.  Moving the building to the proposed location saves coveted field space, another very limited commodity in Scituate.  The Recreation Department uses much of the “A” wing currently until the future of their space needs is determined. 
       

18. Will the proposed senior center prevent reuse of the Gates “B” wing?

    • No.  The Gates “B” renovations would be able to proceed with no limitation.
       

19. Describe increases in operating cost.

    • The Council on Aging anticipates additional cost to provide a lunch program, including 1 possible staff and plus possible staff additions or changes to assist with volunteers.  Most programs are cost neutral as participants pay fees that offset cost and others rely on grant funding or volunteers.
       

20. Describe how volunteers work at the Council on Aging.

    • Volunteers perform many functions that assist in delivery of services, including answering phones and greeting clients; making appointments for clients to meet with staff or visiting professionals; answering questions about activities; and providing much-needed assistance in the kitchen and with larger events.  Much of the Council on Aging programming is provided by volunteers, making the COA very cost effective. Volunteers manage softball, assist with organizing and instruction of Pickleball and Badminton, provide gardening for the building, and lend support for trips and events.
       

21. Will the Senior facility be available to other organizations, groups when not being utilized by senior programming?

• Once the facility is built and guidelines established, the facility could be used for community events.           

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22. Has financing the project been discussed?​

• Nancy Holt, Finance Director and Town Accountant, presented an excellent financial (debt) analysis April 23, 2019 to the Board of Selectmen.  The link to the Scituate TV -Youtube coverage of the BOS meeting follows.  The presentation starts at minute 10 and ends at minute 52.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX_G7kG6E9E

• The initial cost to the average home tax bill was estimated at $144 per year, less than $2.77 per week.  This would decrease to $77 per year ($1.48 per week) at the end of the debt at 20 years. The cost impact on tax bills is minimized due to paydown of existing debt.  The tax impact on the average Scituate home valued at $576,038 is only $14 per year more than the current FY 2019 tax burden.  See the Advisory Committee Booklet for the Special Town Meeting for year to year estimated tax burden from debt.

• https://www.scituatema.gov/sites/scituatema/files/pages/may_13_2019_stm_advisory_booklet_final.pdf

 

23. What town boards and committees support the project?

• Advisory Committee voted 6-1 to support the project. The Board of Selectmen voted in support of the project.

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24. What is wrong with the Gates "B" ?

• The building was studied by Durkee Brown and Yoder Tidwell in 2012.​

Durkee Brown

https://www.scituatema.gov/sites/scituatema/files/pages/gates_ms_extg_cond_b_wing_only_final.pdf

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Yoder Tidwell

https://www.scituatema.gov/sites/scituatema/files/pages/1200_struct_draft.pdf

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Durkee Brown lists 5 pages of code issues, while Yoder Tidwell recommended reinforcing the flat roof, suggested shoveling snow off it to keep snow load less than 12 inches.  Lou Chin personal note: We hope that reinforcement has taken place.  Would not want to be shoveling snow off that roof in a blizzard.

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25. Health issues at the existing Brook St Senior Center?

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There have been alleged allergic responses to mold, pollen and dust that keep some seniors away.  The floor is covered by an old carpet that contains these and other items that cannot help but get tracked in. 

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26. How does the proposal fit with the neighborhood?

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The Design and Review Committee is charged with assessing the proposal's fit with the neighborhood and town.  These officials met May 7 and had a very pleasant, productive, and detailed discussion with the project proponents.  Details included color and exterior materials.  One official summed the project as "inventive."

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27. Why not wait until the resolution of Gates "B" is decided?

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The spirited discussion on social media shows that a design for resolution of Gates "B" will not be achieved anytime soon.  Many proposed solutions propose designs that are similar to or based on proposals from early studies in this almost two decade effort to build a senior center. These earlier designs were shown in later studies to be infeasible or more costly.  Some designs proposed by opponents suggest eliminating the field behind old Gates.  Town meeting recently restored two fields at great cost.

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Time and inflation increase cost greatly.  Delaying the project increases the price.  Selectmen wisely separated the part of the Gates Complex (Please see Public Facilities Master Plan) that is not going to change, namely the senior center, and recommended unanimously to build the center only now, to lock in its cost before inflation can increase it more. The Advisory Committee agreed with the Board of Selectmen. Reducing cost produces a project that results in minimum impact to taxpayers, while leaving money for projects likely in the pipeline such as new or renovated schools.  With the $144 per year from this project, total debt burden on our taxes, for the average $576K home, is $6 per year lower than FY 2018 and only $14 more per year than FY 2019.

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Chunking of multiphase projects at great cost is usual.  The two recreation fields were proposed and approved without a master plan for ALL Scituate fields.  The Gates Middle School was proposed and built without a master plan for renovating ALL Scituate schools.  Indeed, the Gates "B" resolution is a problem because the proposal to build Gates Middle School did NOT include a master plan for disposition of the old school.

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28. What are the historical considerations?

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The Scituate Historical Society has endorsed the gym parking plan after deciding the project will "enhance" the Cudworth area by creating a historical area.

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Recently opponents filed for the Gates built in 1917 to receive status as a historical site.  This action may further complicate reuse of Gates "B."  The building in 1917 bears little resemblance to the Gates we know today.  There is no gym, no main building wings, no A or C wings, no peaked roof, no facade, no steeple, no finial.  It is an ordinary looking rectangular building with a flat roof.  Going to that design could leave Recreation Dept homeless.  Replacing the lost areas could be very, very expensive.

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29. Why is the Advisory Committee article language vague?

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The Advisory Committee intentionally crafts the article language with flexibility to make necessary tweaks as the project proceeds through the usual permitting process, including Planning Board.  The language  of this article was discussed at the moderator's meeting and found similar to the language used for the Gates Middle School article.  The language also limits the amount of flexibility.   

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