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Uxbridge senior-center director urges phased expansion as residents report wait lists and limited services
Summary
The Select Board heard a detailed report from the Senior Center director about programs, transportation and staffing needs and fielded multiple public comments from seniors who said limited space forces wait lists for lunches and activities. The board discussed options including phased use of McCluskey School and a purpose-built facility.
Lisa, the Uxbridge senior-center director, told the Select Board April 28 that the center serves residents 60 and older (and some younger disabled adults), operates a five-vehicle transportation fleet and provides daily homemade lunches and social services, but suffers from cramped space, insufficient privacy and staffing shortages. “We may be small, but we do it all,” Lisa said, summarizing what the center provides and the limitations the staff confront.
The presentation drew on an aging study prepared by the UMass Gerontology Program, Lisa said, and outlined a strategic plan with five areas of focus — purpose and community, governance, program planning, facilities and marketing — each with assigned responsibilities and target timelines. Lisa said two vehicles were obtained through grants and recommended embedding senior-center needs into the annual budget process.
During public comment, several seniors described being put on waiting lists for lunch and programs. One resident said bluntly that seniors “feel like we are the forgotten,” calling for increased town attention to parking, building capacity and outreach. Board members acknowledged the feedback and cited possible near-term options: phased use of McCluskey School space for programming, temporary building rentals for large events, increased outreach to younger seniors (baby boomers) and pursuing targeted tax-relief expansions for older residents. “I hope that the looking at McCluskey as a municipal center and having the senior center there is something that can happen,” one Select Board member said.
The board discussed longer-term options as well, including designing a single-level, accessibility-focused senior center on town-owned land near the high school. Members asked staff to integrate senior-center goals into budget planning for FY26 and to bring back more detailed cost estimates and a projected timeline. The board did not vote on a specific capital plan at the meeting; next steps identified were further study, budget integration and continued outreach to identify feasible interim venues and staff adjustments.
The center’s written aging report and strategic plan are available on the town website; the Select Board asked staff to return with concrete options and cost estimates for review during the budget cycle.
