AMHERST
Board members seek to expand services at Amherst senior citizens center
Amherst’s Senior Services Department is essentially a human services agency running a $3 million operation. Town Board members are asking if the department could serve more people and make more money doing it.
In a department report to the Town Board on Monday, Senior Services Director Gail Thornton said that on average, more than 900 senior citizens are served daily at the Amherst Center for Senior Services on John James Audubon Parkway or in their homes.
Nine different activities, programs or services cover events from dance classes and driver safety courses to Meals on Wheels and transportation services, Thornton said.
Council Member Shelly Schratz recommended that the Senior Center consider partnering with community nonprofit groups and other organizations to offer extended hours and evening programs at the center.
“I just think that would be the key to utilize that space as much as we possibly can,” Schratz said.
Thornton responded that issues related to town liability, security and evening cleaning schedules would have to be resolved in order for that to happen.
Schratz responded that the senior center should be used as often as possible and maintenance concerns should not be a driving reason to limit building occupancy.
Council Members Mark Manna and Guy Marlette recommended that the Senior Services Department consider opening the senior center to nonresidents of the town and charging them a higher fee to use it.
Such a move could help generate more town revenue and maximize usage of the 53,000 square-foot facility, they said, noting that nonresidents are already allowed to use the Pepsi Center and town golf courses for a higher fee.
Thornton responded that while this idea has come up from time to time, the senior center has some space limitations and many classes are already near capacity with town residents alone.
“We’d really have to think about it because, again, there is limited space,” she said.
Staffing levels are tight right now, Thornton said, but she expects the department will be able to remain within its budget this year.
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