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Senior-center leaders urge board to delay transfer and preserve nonprofit identity
Summary
Representatives of the Coffee County Senior Citizen Center told the board at the budget hearing that a proposed move under Parks and Recreation could jeopardize donor support and the center's identity; city staff said budget money is included and pledged study sessions to work through details.
Multiple speakers representing the Coffee County Senior Citizen Center urged the Board of Mayor and Aldermen to delay any structural change that would place the center under the city's Parks and Recreation department and to preserve the center's 501(c)(3) identity so donors will continue to give.
"The success of the senior center often goes unnoticed by many," said Vicki, a senior-center representative, who described program metrics including deliveries, volunteer hours and thousands of member contacts as evidence the center is a vital community resource. Speakers repeatedly asked for an open oversight review and warned that some donors had already indicated they would withhold new gifts if the center's nonprofit status were subsumed.
Mayor Lyn Siver told attendees the board was not voting that night on a takeover and that the budget vote under consideration would include funds to support the senior center. "The only thing we're voting on tonight is putting some money in the budget to help the senior citizen center," the mayor said, adding that staff and the board planned further engagement.
JP Craft, a city staff member, described one option staff is considering: city administration of building maintenance, custodial and front-desk operations while allowing the senior center's 501(c)(3) organization to remain responsible for programming. "We would not change it from a community or from the senior center. It would just be run by the city in the aspect of maintenance, custodial, and front desk," Craft said.
Board members asked staff to schedule study sessions to give the community and the senior-center board a chance to discuss options and preserve services while clarifying any legal or financial obligations. No formal transfer or structural change was approved at the meeting.
