LYNN — The City of Lynn is seeking a new space for the Senior Center, which it will lease from a prospective landlord for five years.
The City’s Council’s Public Property and Parks Committee voted, 4-0, Tuesday night to release a Request for Proposals for the new facility, which will be posted on the state’s Central Register next week.
The city will lease the new facility from the selected bidder. The bid document outlines 12 sets of comparative criteria that will determine how proposals are evaluated, which includes space and parking requirements.
Mayor Thomas M. McGee announced this past fall that the city would be taking over management of the Senior Center. As part of the change, city officials and Greater Lynn Senior Services (GLSS), came to an agreement to move the center from the GLSS building at 8 Silsbee St. to a new facility in June.
“It’s an exciting time,” said James Lamanna, assistant city solicitor. “We’ve never had a Senior Center. It’s a challenge, but it’s an opportunity.”
Lamanna said the goal is for the facility to be operational by July 1, but he told the committee at their Feb. 25 meeting that a build-out could make that “date real tight.” The RFP reads that the city may provide financial assistance for any necessary repairs or renovations.
The RFP calls for a building that would house 7,000-9,000 square feet of space for the Senior Center, is ADA compliant with handicapped accessible bathrooms and has kitchen space. The current facility is 7,000 square-feet, Lamanna said.
A desired location would provide adequate parking, with at least 25-50 on-site spaces or access to nearby street parking preferred, and would be near a public transportation stop. Preferred properties would be less than half a mile to two miles away from such a stop, according to the RFP.
Preferred bids would allow for the “ability to expand,” where the city and prospective landlord could rent additional space in the future if more space is needed for the facility.
Lamanna said the city would sign a five-year lease with the selected bidder, but there would be a clause allowing officials to break that agreement should they want to move to or purchase a better space.
He said an elder services director, who will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Senior Center, will be hired in time to assist with landlord selection. According to a city job posting, the director will be paid a salary of $78,000-$82,000, along with benefits.
The RFP will be discussed with seniors at GLSS on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. McGee, Lamanna and Ward 5 Councilor Dianna Chakoutis will seek their input on how many seniors would not attend the center if there was not adequate parking, no access to public transportation and it was not walkable.
Although the city will operate and manage the new Senior Center, officials will continue to partner with GLSS for the delivery of certain services.
Under GLSS’ current contract with the city, Lynn allocates more than $360,000, half from the city budget, to staff the center and pay for rent. It’s unclear how that cost would change with the transfer and new facility.
The transition in management came after complaints about the way staff and seniors were treated at the current Senior Center. The complaints were largely lodged against former GLSS CEO Paul Crowley, who resigned from his position on Oct. 31 following allegations from a former employee that he had harassed one of the seniors.
GLSS has since hired a new CEO, Kathryn C. Burns, who will start her new position on March 16.