By a clear two-thirds majority, Pembroke residents approved a $19 million dollar community center project at Town Meeting.
WATD’s Lenny Rowe files this report.
The project that would combine the town’s Recreation Department and Senior Center into a 33,000 square foot facility. The fate of the project will now be decided at Saturday’s Annual Town Election.
“It’s really emotional,” said Andrew Sullivan, the Chair of the Pembroke Community Center Task Force.
“To hear the appeals of the seniors in particular that desperately want this, and everyone’s pointed out, it’s really a need. Coming out of COVID with isolation and all, we need a place to gather,” said Sullivan. “The existing site has so far out-lived it’s life cycle. It’s 30 acres in the middle of our town that is an embarrassment. It’s long, long overdue to fix it up.”
There were 335 residents in attendance for the meeting.
Some residents at Town Meeting opposed the project, citing the need for new facilities for the police and fire departments. The capital budget includes $150,000 dollars for a public safety building design.
Council on Aging Director Gretchen Emmetts says there are 6,300 residents in town over the age of 60.
Programing was limited at the current space due to COVID-19 protocols. She told the meeting that the pandemic highlighted the need for senior support services.
“You can’t put a cost on the quality of life for seniors or children,” said Emmetts.
Selectman Chair Dan Trabucco has been part of the last two task forces. But this is the furthest the project reached. He said bond rates are currently at 2 percent.
“It was good to see. The project has a lot of merit. It benefits young people in town and the elderly in town equally,” said Trabucco. “They’re number 1 and 1A beneficiaries of this community center and then broadly, the rest of the town benefits as well.”
In addition to funding a public safety building design, the capital budget includes $1 million dollars for elevated water tank maintenance.
Voters approved zoning bylaw changes to allow housing developments in the industrial zones.
The Pembroke Town Meeting concluded in one night.
