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Voices for Branford Seniors, a grassroots group rallying for a new senior center, made its voices heard as about 70 people gathered to let candidates know their needs.
“This is just a great showing, and it shows we have support,” said Helen Kelsey, 88, as she addressed the crowd at the Blackstone Library this past Thursday afternoon. “We’re here today to hear the voices of the Branford seniors — we need a new senior center now.”
Senior Center History
Since 1975, the senior center has been located at the former Canoe Brook School which was built in 1898. The building was renovated in 1986, but does not meet current accessibility standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The building can only be entered by climbing stairs or by using an outdated, multi-level ramp. Other complaints focus on limited parking, and insufficient rooms for programs. Click here to read a recent story about Canoe Brook.
“Why does the problem go on and on and it’s ignored?” said Richard Batick, who has attended town meetings over the years when the issue was discussed but no action was taken. “In our eyes we are being neglected — denied our golden years.”
Diana Stricker Photo
“We want to let the candidates know how we feel before the election,” Kelsey (pictured) said. In addition to the meeting last week, the group has held brunch meetings with each candidate to outline their concerns.
Seniors and candidates were given time to express their views during the Thursday meeting, which will be shown on BCTV, the local cable television station.
“I didn’t imagine how important the senior center would be to me five years ago, or two years ago,” said Maureen Carr, who recently retired. “Now I’m spending a lot of time there.” She said the staff and programming are great but the building is not. “If the heart is what mattered, it would be in great shape,” she said of the programs at Canoe Brook. “But the body (of the building) is in terrible shape.”
“For those of you politicians who are younger … having a good senior center, an appropriate center, is one of the things this town needs,” Carr said, adding that seniors are resources of both history and volunteerism.
Addressing the candidates, Carr said: “You have to, in your heart, want this and advocate for this… We want to know what you will do rather than just talk about it.”
Senior Questions Cosgrove
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Genevieve Gott (pictured) had a question for Jamie Cosgrove, the current third selectman who is running on the Republican ticket for first selectman. She asked if he favors building new schools before a new senior center.
“No, I did not prioritize which project would be done,” Cosgrove said, explaining that there are several building projects that need to be addressed. “I agree the building is inadequate,” he said in regard to Canoe Brook. Cosgrove said he wants to form a standing building commission to look at all the proposed building projects.
“You haven’t answered my question,” Gott pressed. “Are you putting the schools ahead of the seniors?”
“No,” answered Cosgrove.
Second Selectman Andy Campbell, the Democratic candidate for first selectman, offered his views. “I do have a priority. The number-one building priority in town happens to be the senior center,” Campbell told the group. He said he represents many seniors in his law practice and understands their problems: “That senior center at Canoe Brook needs to be replaced as soon as possible.”
Jacey Wyatt, who is running for first selectman on the Independent Branford Voters coalition, said she has proposed undertaking several projects at one time. “We can be a multi-tasker,” she told the group. “To prioritize it, yes we can. With me, you’re going to get it immediately.”
Both Campbell and Wyatt have also spoken in favor of forming a standing building commission to review all proposals for building projects.
The Board of Finance, however, has recently adopted a new policy that enables the board to oversee how and when the buildings may be financed.
The town has been attempting to find a site for a new public works building for two years, at the same time the school district has proposed projects totaling $143 million to renovate and expand Walsh Intermediate School and the former Branford Hills Elementary School.
Ill-Fated Swap
Three years ago, there was an ill-fated three-way swap proposed that would have addressed some of the town’s needs. The proposal by First Selectman Anthony “Unk” Da Ros began as a plan to find larger locations for both the senior programs and the school district’s central administration office, which is housed at 1111 Main St. The plan called for moving the school offices to a renovated Canoe Brook, and moving the senior center to 145 N. Main St., which is owned by the Giordano family. The Giordanos would swap their building for the one at 1111 Main St.
After months of contentious meetings regarding the swap, the plan was put to rest by both the Board of Finance and by a split vote of the Representative Town Meeting.
Lillian Olejarczyk, a Branford resident for 80 years, said “Canoe Brook was my grammar school…when I retired I was back there again.” She has been attending programs for 15 years and is familiar with the building’s shortcomings.
Donna Robinson told the politicians that action is long overdue. She said the building is too small and activities overlap because there are not enough rooms “Branford is an embarrassment. It’s sad situation,” she said. “You have to do something.”
Rebecca Randall, a member of the town’s Commission on Elderly Services, said they have been trying to get a new center for several years. “The seniors really do need a center,” she said.
Some people in the audience said they were not familiar with the commission or its members. Others said the commission needs to take a more active role in spearheading a new center.
“We are absolutely supportive of a new senior center…contact anyone of us at any time,” said Anita Visentin-Perito, chair of the Commission on Elderly Services. She said patrons at the center frequently put suggestions in the commission’s comment box at Canoe Brook.
“The most frequent comment I get … is that they’re disgusted with the senior center,” she said, adding that the programming and staff are wonderful, but the building is not. She asked seniors to make a list of their needs.
Visentin-Perito said she is opposed to the town forming a building committee that would pit one group against another. She said if the issue becomes political, there won’t be a senior center, or a Walsh Intermediate School project or a new public works building.
“The committee is just a bureaucratic thing we don’t need,” she told the seniors. “Move forward with what you want.” She said the grassroots group of seniors should come up with a plan. “We don’t want a committee…we want to get the job done,” Visentin-Perito said.
Campbell addressed the group again. “The process going forward is very important,” he said, adding that it is important for the seniors to contact the elderly commission. “We have to keep marching forward on this.”
“I think we just might get a senior center,” Kelsey told the group shortly before the meeting ended. “Hopefully it will be in two years (before the next election) I don’t want to have to do this again,” she said, adding, “Some of us won’t be here in two years.”
Kelsey told the group to contact the candidates and politicians, and to keep working as a group. She even suggested they hold bake sales to start raising money. “We are willing to help raise some money to get this thing going.”
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The biggest impact any new building will have on the entire town of Branford will be a new Walsh. We lose young families all the time who move away or switch to private schools because of the physical layout of Walsh. We also lose out to many families who opt for Guilford or Madison so their children can attend middle school in their communities. Walsh has been a nightmare for 40 years. The entire town of Branford loses because of this building. This building isn't about one particular age group in Branford; it is about the entirety of Branford. We lose good families, friends, businesses, etc because of how poorly our middle school is designed. I'm sorry but Walsh is the priority. I would never vote for a new senior center over a functional school for children. That's just wrong.