By JOHN HOWELL

The city administration has provided a breakdown of operational and renovation costs for the Buttonwoods Community Center in support of the plan to close the center on March 1.

At one time one of three city senior centers, Buttonwoods was transitioned into a community center serving a variety of groups and functions. Most senior programs were relocated to the Pilgrim Senior Center as were those programs operating out of the JONAH Center in Oakland Beach, the city’s first senior center.

Faced with the cost of renovations and opportunity of relocating programs to Pilgrim or Lloyd Cooper Armory on Sandy Lane, which the city acquired from the Army Reserves, Mayor Scott Avedisian plans to advertise for requests for proposals to acquire the former school at the corner of West Shore Road and Buttonwoods. In addition about 340 seniors who weekly use the center for card games, BINGO and group meeting space, the center houses programs run by Westbay Community Action and Comprehensive Community Action Program. Two personnel from the city Department of Human Services are based at the center and would move to the City Hall Annex.

Rent paid by Westbay and CCAP totals $26,400 but is $47,986.60 shy of meeting annual center operational costs totaling $74,426.60. The largest chunk of that cost – about $35,000 – is for maintenance personnel followed by electric cost of $17,445.98 and natural gas costs of $10,787.25.

Joseph Blake, who oversees city buildings, provided a breakdown of needed center repairs and renovations totaling $463,000. The costliest work would be replacement of the sprinkler system, estimated at $250,000. Blake estimated replacing the roof would be $60,000; $67,000 for a roof top air conditioner and $50,000 for a boiler that he said is usable but in poor condition. Other work cited includes replacement of floor and ceiling tiles and areas of rot.

Directors at Westbay and CCAP say they are looking for alternative rental space for the adult and youth education and job skills programs now run out of Buttonwoods. Paul Salera, director of Westbay said the agency could be interested in acquiring the building if the price is right.

Sale of the center would require City Council approval and while that won’t be considered until the city has offers, some council members question the plan to close the facility. Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur has been especially vocal in maintaining its operation, citing its use by community groups, for senior activities and as a polling location. He questions why the building has been allowed to fall into disrepair. Ward 8 Councilman Joseph Gallucci notes that a third of the city’s population is more than 65 years old and is growing. He also points out with closure of Buttonwoods, Pilgrim would be the only senior center and it is located in the northerly end of the city.

Asked Wednesday if he had altered his position after learning of the costs associated with Buttonwoods, Mayor Avedisian said, “It’s a lot of money.”