Canton Approves Funds for $1.36 Million Senior Center at Town Meeting

Canton voted to approve the appropriation of $1,360,000 to convert the old Knights of Columbus building on Pleasant Street into a senior center at Town Meeting Monday night.

Bob McCarthy Chairman of Building and Renovations Committee, said that at last year's Town Meeting the town approved $450,000 for the purchase of K of C building located at 500 Pleasant Street.

A design was shown to those in attendance Monday, “that basically is gutting the entire K of C building down to the bare bones,” McCarthy said.

“We knew had an old building and a lot of work had to be done," said McCarthy. “At this point we will have to bring it up to the new building codes for energy, lights, heating, electric, plumbing, ADA bathrooms as well as the earthquake code. We’ll add some amenities to the 6,108-square-foot building.”

McCarthy said he believes the seniors have waited a long time for a senior center.

"The previous project 10 or 12 years ago passed Town Meeting but failed in the override. This building although is not going to be as large will be a step forward for the seniors,” he said. “We have a unique building in a very good location with a tremendous amount of parking. We will have basically a brand new building. All of the amenities that are possible within that building will be set forth.”

According to McCarthy, construction would begin around October of this year and is estimating the project to take six months to complete. Meaning the center would open in April 2014.

Selectman John Connolly said he was in full support of appropriating the funds and that a senior center is a right step for the town.

“It’s about time that the town supports the senior center," Connolly said.

“I feel in my heart the people of this town, the seniors of this town deserve a senior center. Something they can call home. Right now they’re in a basement at the Hemenway School,” he said. “We always take care of police, fire, schools, DPW. People like the senior citizens, the veterans they get what’s left. We’d like to take care of them, they deserve it.”

Many residents spoke out in support of the plan but had questions about the cost and whether more funds would be asked for in the future for the project.

Finance Committee chairman Mark Porter said that if the project comes in over budget it will not be done.

“By using the $1.36 million that leaves us with a minimum reserve level that we’re comfortable with. If we needed to use more than that we would not be comfortable with that because it would put us under the minimum reserves," said Porter. "A great reason for using free cash, we could have asked you to borrow this money but if we’ve got the money in the bank and we can avoid paying the interest on it and I think that makes sense and I think that’s why the Finance Committee unanimously supported this article."