After questioning town planner Bill Warner during the questions to directors portion of the Common Council meeting Monday, Council member Dan Drew suggested that funding the new Senior Center construction with a CDBG grant was inappropriate. Drew had Warner confirm that the $87,000 set aside for the Senior Center from CDBG grants would not be spent this year.
"There are other bricks and mortar projects which need it now," Drew said. "That money will be sitting in an account unused."
Drew opposed confirmation of a resolution which confirmed CDBG grants, specifically the money earmarked for the Senior Center to be built at the old St. Sebastian School.
Fellow Democrat Ron Klattenburg disagreed strongly with Drew. Klattenburg, who heads up the Senior Center building committee said that withholding the money "would be a profound affront on the Seniors in this community." He also noted that while funds may be available now, they may not be in the future.
"The more these funds become available," Klattenburg said. "The easier it is for taxpayers to fund the rest."
"There is real human need on the ground right now," Drew countered. "You are shortcoming people in this community who need help. There are human beings at stake here."
Some senior center supporters in the gallery objected to Drew's characterization.
"We're not humans," they asked.
Drew explained that he is not against the senior center, but only objects to the premature funding of construction with money that could be used for other purposes.
"This is not about shortchanging anyone," Drew said. "It's about helping our neighbor and friends in need."
The resolution was not defeated, but it was sent back to the Citizens' Advisory Council for reconsideration.
Cruise Night, Motorcycle Mania and Citizens Bank 5K Funded
While members of the Council have objected, on a number of occasions, to expenditures because of hard economic times, they readily approved city funding of the annual Cruise Night and Motorcycle Mania up to an expenditure of $10,000 each, and the annual Citizens Bank 5K road race up to an expenditure of $5,000.
The Council also voted to purchase a Porta-Rinx portable ice skating rink for $10,874 to be set up in a city park, and agreed to allocate $6,000 in state local capital improvement funds to build a fence around Willie Pep skateboard park on Dekoven Drive. Buckeye Pipeline, which used the property for staging during the construction of pipeline to the Kleen Energy plant, agreed to donate the land for city use, but it became clear Monday that the $70,000 Buckeye had earmarked for the project was not enough to also build a fence.
The Council also approved a plan to help install an alarm system at the Mattabasset Canoe Club (Harbor Park) in a building owned by the city, leased to Frank Maratta, and sublet Dan Cronin who runs the canoe club. The Council agreed to install a $3500 alarm box and reduce rent for seven months to equal half the cost of the alarm's installation.
8 comments:
Dan Drew is running for mayor again I see.
Yes my wife and I were there, and the way the human being phrase was stated it lead us to believe that seniors were not human beings. We were not the only ones who heard it that way. I think that Mr. Drew would benefit his party and his cause if he talked less and listened more. That is why God gave us one mouth and two ears and ears never get you in trouble.
Ed Dypa
Well said Ed. As leaders of the community for many years you and your wife have had a profound impact on quality of life issues from Westfield Fire, to St. Pius Church and now for the Seniors. It is refreshing to see someone who knows and cares about Middletown put this little brat in his place. Government now has more than 3 branches - add the Department of Insanity...
Are you forgetting Mr. Drew who make up the majority of this town? Those monies have been earmarked for the seniors for years. You will not get my vote unless you put your priorities in order. Seniors are human beings or did you forget? Nothing was thought when $90,000 was spent to move Mr. Frechette's office to the back of the BOE building...
To the current seniors... your parents never screamed and yelled about senior centers. They didn't build them or fund them. They enjoyed the company of their friends and families, all ages. During dire financial times, you are yelling about a senior center, how about a COMMUNITY CENTER where you can share your wisdom by tutoring the young and engaging in activities with your kids. We have several COMMUNITY CENTERS around town, costing MILLIONS... they are called schools. They are conveniently located. Let's use them! If the Ed Department does not let you, work with them and let them know your needs.
As for two of the seniors in the council chamber, they want a meeting place for their AARP group and suggested that the CDBG monies had gone long enough to the current recipients and it was time the seniors got their share.
Every member of our community who receives services from the CDBG grants is someone's grandchild or child. Ask those seniors where they would like the money to go... sitting in an account for a year or used for good works.
While the seniors at the council meeting last night might want you to think so, they DO NOT represent all 8,000 seniors in Middletown.
This should have been voted on and moved forward. Instead we are playing politics with the seniors in Middletown. I wonder how many who have been in the Senior Center lately. It needs a lot of work in which the City of Middletown would pay for, even though the city doesn't own the building. That is why our seniors need their own building and have some control unlike now.
Yes you are right they did not have senior centers. They also fed their children breakfast, lunch and supper. They stayed home and raised their children and did not pawn them off at their parents or day care centers. They spent weekends with their families. How many times did you spend a weekend with your parents last year? You have an active life, why can't your parents enjoy the company of other seniors,programs and activities. Have you ever tried to book a room in a public school? Do you have any idea of what it costs. Ask the BoE, find out the facts before you make future suggestion.
I believe St. Sebastian School would make an ideal Senior Center. I also believe that both Mr. Drew and Mr. Dypa are entitled to their opinions and that we should keep an open mind regarding all issues as we respectfully debate and discuss.
The current Senior Center is a lively place, dry, comfortable, well lit, and well tended. It's good for at least a few more years. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I doubt that Middletown seniors
who frequent the current Center are clambering for a replacement. St. Sebastian's will be there until we decide how best to proceed.
Let's all give a little, give the courtesy of listening to all participants, in this time of budget concerns. Let's be generous to those who are generous with their time in participating in the democratic process--both Mr. Dypa and Mr. Drew, and all the rest.
Our voices reflect concern for seniors and for the entire community in this time of budget shortfalls. Let's all listen to each other respect and courtesy and work for the common good.
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