Letter: Save the Portsmouth Senior Center

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Posted 2/8/21

To the editor:

During the Jan. 25 Portsmouth Town Council meeting, Town Administrator Richard Rainer reported on the senior center. He stated there is a two-step process that involves: 1) Securing …

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Letter: Save the Portsmouth Senior Center

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Posted

To the editor:

During the Jan. 25 Portsmouth Town Council meeting, Town Administrator Richard Rainer reported on the senior center. He stated there is a two-step process that involves: 1) Securing a permanent replacement as the current location, Anne Hutchinson School, is no longer authorized for use as of next summer, and; 2) Finding intermediate location until permanent home is found for the senior center. Mr. Rainer stated there has been discussions for a partnership with Church Community Housing (CCH). These discussions included CCH would at no cost to the town build a new center with a longterm lease. 

What Mr. Rainer left out of his report, it appears, pursuant to a statement dated Aug. 25, 2020 from Sen. Seveney and Rep. Cortvriend, they have had discussions with CCH and CCH’s main objective is to build affordable housing and CCH would be responsible for getting the tenants and manage all operations. No mention of a senior center, but pursuant to this statement, when asked CCH stated they can include a community room as part of any housing development. This is a far cry from a senior center or securing a permanent home for the senior center. 

What has been left out of these discussions is Sen. (Helen) Mathieu, who chairs the senior center’s board, has conducted extensive research to establish it is more cost effective to renovate the current location, rather than tear-down, re-build or find another location. A modest investment from the town to renovate the current location is more affordable; will allow the seniors to stay at their current location and preserves a town building that has historical significance. 

Mr. Rainer reported further over the next few weeks he would be reaching out to people who have a stake or ties to the senior center to form a working committee to address all concerns of the viability of the senior center. It seems this committee should have been formed prior to any discussions with CCH or any other organizations. Such discussions should include renovating the current location to bring it up to code allowing the senior center to stay in place and continue to provide the much needed services to the senior community. Furthermore, members of the board for the senior center should have been included in all such discussions.

After the meeting, calls were made to the Town Clerk’s Office by individuals expressing interest to be on this working committee for the senior center. The town clerk explained this was not a committee to save the current location, as that location is “going to be torn down.” Has there been a vote by the public on this? Another caller was told it was not really a group – maybe just a few people like a focus group. Appears there is no plan in place, just comments made to pacify the growing public interest of this situation. 

Seniors of Portsmouth are being disenfranchised and deserve better than this! 

Roseanne Martin

East Main Road

Portsmouth

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