LYNN – The City Council’s Public Property and Parks Committee voted unanimously Tuesday evening to put together another request for proposals (RFP) for the lease or a purchase of a property that would accommodate a new senior center.
The full City Council also unanimously approved the motion.
“I think it is an appropriate time for an RFP on the senior center to go back out,” said Assistant City Solicitor James Lamanna.
This will be the third time the city has sent out an RFP for the senior center since the spring of 2020. Lamanna said that the city did not receive any bids the last two times.
He requested that the committee authorize an RFP for a 10-year lease and/or a purchase of a suitable property.
Committee Chair and Ward 2 Councilor Rick Starbard said that the City Council should reserve the right to review and approve the RFP before it goes out.
Councilor-at-large Brian LaPierre asked about the logic for a 10-year lease request.
Lamanna responded that the first RFP was for five years and the people who were interested in possibly bidding said that the amount of money necessary for a buildout did not warrant just a five-year lease.
“A purchase would need millions and millions of upfront money, where a lease would be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Lamanna said.
This will give the City Council, the Council on Aging, and the Mayor’s Office an opportunity to evaluate different scenarios, Lamanna said, and decide what is in the best interest for the city.
Lynn has not had a senior center since 2019; 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. The city had originally hoped to secure a new location by June 2020.
