Agree ! Carol R
Sent from my iPhone > On Nov 28, 2022, at 10:19 AM, Sara Mattes <samat...@gmail.com> wrote: > > 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. >
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