Charlton senior center director seeks more hours for front‑desk help and presses feasibility study for new facility

Michelle Drum, director of the Town of Charlton Council on Aging (COA) Senior Center, requested an expanded front‑desk position and described changing meal arrangements and a potential new senior center site at the March 26 budget hearing.

Drum asked the Select Board to modify the existing activities assistant (15 hours/week) into a 24–28 hour administrative assistant position, with a proposed hourly rate (24–28 hours at $22.06/hr in the draft budget) to make the job more attractive and easier to fill. Drum said the activities position is now vacant and the senior center faces significant daily foot traffic: average daily attendance rose from 53 in 2023 to 69 in 2024 and to about 79 so far in 2025. She said the center serves about 4,100 residents age 60 and older in Charlton, with roughly 237 people turning 60 this year.

Drum described duties such as client…