Seniors start to petition town for new center
By Karen Mann JOURNAL CORRESPONDENT

With 18 percent of the population in Westminster being comprised of senior citizens, the group of residents is ready for their own facility.

"It is our hope that the Council and the Board of Selectmen will give serious consideration to expanded and improved facilities to meet the needs of our elder citizens," said Virginia Krul in a letter she sent to the Council on Aging, and town officials.

At the council's meeting on Wednesday, Krul read the letter out loud to the group and state Rep. Lew Evangelidis (R-Holden), who was also present at the meeting.

The senior center is currently housed on the first floor of the American Legion building. The town does not pay rent on the building but instead pays for the utilities and some of the repairs and upgrades. The room is large and open with a few areas partitioned off for privacy.

At the annual town meeting in May there was a large number of people that spoke in favor of increasing the Council on Aging's budget and new services for seniors despite the fact there was nothing specifically on the warrant in regards to the issue.

Evangelidis said he included funds for a new senior center in a letter he submitted to the Governor's financial administration.

The letter lists future potential expenses from the towns that Evangelidis represents, expenses he hopes to fund through a state bond bill.

According to Evangelidis, the governor has given up to $1.2 billion for building and repair projects of state infrastructures and roads. He said cities and towns could ask for some of this money to go towards projects specific to their community.

Evangelidis' request asks for $300,000 for a new senior facility in Westminster.

"I was jumping the gun, but they were reaching out to me, so I wanted to get in there," said Evangelidis. "Now you have to get the town to recognize the need and make a request."

To go forward, he recommended the COA get town officials to agree to starting the project by having an architectural plan and cost estimate drawn up, bringing a warrant to town meeting, then looking into outside funding sources.

Krul's letter lists what this new facility should include for services. Some of those include full handicap accessibility, kitchen space and a computer room with Internet access.

"The civic leaders of Westminster have long recognized the needs of the town's young people and have provided educational, athletic, civic and social programs that have positively affected the quality of life and the development of our youth. We ask that the same level of importance, respect, and commitment be shown to the growing number of senior citizens among us."

Members of the COA were planning to attend the Board of Selectmen's meeting that same night to read Krul's letter. They also were considering reading another letter, drafted by member Neysa Miller, which talked about a lack of communication between the selectmen and the COA. The selectmen's meeting took place after press time.