Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents press Select Board to find central, accessible space for COA thrift shop
Summary
Friends of the Council on Aging and volunteers urged the Select Board to prioritize a central, accessible location for the COA thrift shop after the current church site is likely to be sold; staff said insurance, ADA access and an RFP process will shape options.
Dozens of residents and volunteers told the Littleton Select Board Tuesday that the Friends of the Council on Aging thrift shop needs a central, accessible home if the current church location is sold.
Vera Spore told the board, "we really need a thrift shop in a better place than it is right now," urging a site with parking and access for seniors without cars. Longtime volunteers, including Sandra Casale, described the shop as a community hub that previously raised roughly $12,000 a year when housed in the town building and now raises about $5,000 while paying rent to the church.
Board members and staff said key constraints include insurance requirements, an ADA accessibility evaluation now under way for town buildings, and procurement rules. Town administration explained that any permanent use of town-owned space by a nonprofit would likely require a Request for Proposals so other interested groups can bid; staff also said an architect-led accessibility assessment is expected to take several months.
Pamela LaValle, a volunteer with fundraising experience, framed the thrift shop not only as a senior fundraiser but as an activity with wider market appeal. She recommended the board consider both the financial and community value when evaluating potential town-space options.
Why it matters: The thrift shop is the Friends of the COA's largest fundraiser and a social hub for older residents. Losing an affordable, accessible central location would reduce revenue for senior programming and remove a place of social connection for older adults.
What's next: Staff will return with details from the ADA evaluation, insurance options and procurement constraints; the board suggested meeting with potential bidders and agreed further discussion is appropriate after the architect's report.
Representative quotes: "We really need a thrift shop in a better place than it is right now," said Vera Spore during public comment.
"There are a lot of challenges in the property, whether it's handicap accessibility, there are mechanical issues, there's utility issues," a staff member said, describing the steps needed before offering space in Town Hall.
Ending: The Select Board closed public comment for the night but asked staff to pursue the ADA evaluation results and return with options for how the town might accommodate the thrift shop within legal and procurement constraints.
