Board members of the Town of Hubbardston senior center discussed whether to seek an exclusion from a recently passed law that allows firearms in public buildings during their regular meeting. No formal motion to request an exclusion was made; board members agreed to gather member input and consult town staff about next steps.

The discussion began after a board member said the centers longtime SHINE counselor had left the town service area, a departure the speaker linked to the new law allowing guns in some public buildings. Board members noted that some facilities—libraries and police departments, as discussed at the meeting—appear to be excluded from the statute while the senior center currently is not.

Several board members recommended polling regular attendees before pursuing a formal exclusion. One member suggested asking Nate Boudreaux, the town-appointed TA who attends meetings, to advise the board on whether and how to request an exemption from the relevant authority. Another urged discretion: seek a sense of attendees views quietly rather than raising the issue publicly at first.

Board members said their concerns focused on seniorss safety and on the possibility that a disgruntled relative or someone with declining mental health could present a risk in a senior-center setting. The board did not vote on any policy change at the meeting and did not direct staff to file an exclusion request by the end of the session.

Next steps the board discussed included: informally surveying regular program participants about their comfort level with firearms on site; asking the town TA what administrative route would be required to request an exclusion; and, if a majority of regulars supported pursuing an exemption, preparing a formal request for the appropriate county or state office.

The conversation occurred during the meetings new-business segment and remained a discussion of options rather than a binding decision. The board plans to follow up with attendees and with town staff before bringing any formal recommendation to a future meeting.