Ruth Ann, et al, I actually have carefully tabulated ALL the comments made at the end go the survey. Approx. 545 folks turned in a survey. 347 added comments-some very lengthy. Many complained about the survey itself-that it was not a legitimate survey. Nonetheless less, they went on to make specific comments I will not go into the details here, but I created several buckets-1) those who said no need 2) those who said go for it-overdue, what ever it takes 3) who were supportive but concerned about cost and urged adherence to 50-75% limits 4) those who would support if it was at 50% or less. 1& 2 were the minority 3 & 4 were the vast majority
What we have yet to see are plans that reflect these concerns over costs. We have been repeatedly reminded that we cannot do a good job for the 50% price point. Perhaps that will change tonight. I suspect the call for a pause is coming from some who feel a frustration over not seeing the Spc.TM vote treated with the deference that others feel is due. I attend, either in person or via Zoom, almost all the meetings. I have not heard anyone in attendance suggest we abandon the project…yet. I hear loud and clear calls for compromises and viable alternatives at 50% ($12.5 million) or lower. I hear and see offers of creative alternatives/ solutions. And, I hear a plea to not present an all or nothing to the town that most likely will fail. Best, Sara ------ Sara Mattes > On Jun 28, 2023, at 10:58 AM, RAandBOB <[email protected]> wrote: > > It doesn’t make any sense to put this project on pause. A large number of > people have for years understood the need for an improved building for the > Council on Aging and Human Services. The people who are against any project > whatsoever can vote against this project at town meeting. But the many people > who are in favor deserve to have an actual project brought before the town to > be voted on its merits. > > Ruth Ann Hendrickson > (She, her, hers) > >> On Jun 28, 2023, at 9:25 AM, Seth Rosen <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> Hi June, >> >> While I agree that a pause in this work would be prudent, it's not going to >> happen I'm afraid. >> >> A few controversial, but I think accurate, points... >> >> 1) There is a sub-group of residents who believe that the construction of a >> community center is a long time in the making. They believe that the volume >> of planning work and discussions already done over the years justifies its >> construction (i.e. we've been working on it for a long time, so it must be a >> good idea). >> >> 2) This same group generally believes that the renovation of the school came >> with an implied promise to build a community center. >> >> 3) This group was massively emboldened by the town's willingness to >> authorize $325,000 to develop alternatives and create plans at various >> levels of cost. These levels were largely arbitrarily determined in the >> meeting, in real time, in an effort to reflect the town's concern about >> costs vs. actual needs. And (mostly) allow everyone to go home since the >> meeting itself took ten times as long as it needed to. Most younger folks, >> especially those with kids, had to leave long before the vote was actually >> taken. >> >> 4) Now the construction project has an architect, and is a solution looking >> for a problem. Exercise classes with 4 attendees now need dedicated spaces, >> staff members need large and new dedicated offices, etc. The list goes on. >> >> The CCBC is a community center building committee. They want to build a >> community center, that's why they didn't ask in the survey if people thought >> we needed one. They don't want the answer to that question. And candidly, >> I'm inclined to agree with them that it doesn't matter. The will of the >> town and the opinions of survey respondents are irrelevant to both sides. >> This will be put to a vote and the only thing that matters is the will of >> the people who actually show up and vote. >> >> Seth >> >> Seth I Rosen >> Cell: 617-771-5602 >> Email: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >> >> On Wed, Jun 28, 2023 at 8:13 AM June L Matthews <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>> I agree that this (a “pause”) would be a good idea. Back when the CCBC >>> survey came out a resident wrote to say that it didn’t contain the >>> important question as to whether the responder was in favor of building a >>> community center at Hartwell (or at all). The CCBC was requested to send >>> out a second survey but this never happened. Moreover, the meeting (in >>> 2018?) at which there was a “unanimous” vote for the Harwell site was not >>> attended by anything like a majority of town voters. Someone estimated >>> that there were perhaps 150 people there. And, as you point out, this was >>> a long time ago and many things have changed since then. >>> >>> >>> >>> June Matthews >>> >>> Greenridge Lane >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> From: Lincoln <[email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>> On Behalf Of judyta frodyma >>> Sent: Tuesday, June 27, 2023 12:28 PM >>> To: Sara Mattes <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> >>> Cc: Peter von Mertens <[email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>>; Lincoln Talk <[email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>> >>> Subject: Re: [LincolnTalk] Site visit for Community Center >>> >>> >>> >>> These are great and I'm happy to see the transparency. >>> >>> >>> >>> However, is there an option to pause all this work forward on the Community >>> Centre and actually check in with the whole community whether they want >>> this project to go ahead? (Method to be determined, perhaps some kind of >>> mandatory vote? Don't tear me apart on this specific, I'm just thinking out >>> loud.) >>> >>> >>> >>> Seems to me that there's been a lot of turnover in people living in >>> Lincoln, many of whom, like ourselves, are young pandemic or post-pandemic >>> transplants. We did not have a say in whether this is a project that we >>> wanted (or can afford) since the vote happened so long ago, and many of us >>> are new or first time home owners. >>> >>> >>> >>> Given the incredible amount of division on the issue, especially on Lincoln >>> Talk and at town meetings, maybe we can pause and check in before plowing >>> ahead? >>> >>> >>> >>> Thank you, >>> >>> Jude Frodyma >>> >>> Conant Rd >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Jun 22, 2023, 7:38 PM Sara Mattes <[email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>> >>> Thank you-please alert us when they are up. >>> >>> Sara >>> >>> ------ >>> Sara Mattes >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On Jun 22, 2023, at 11:41 AM, Peter von Mertens <[email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>> Yes we have asked specifically that they be available in advance of >>> Wednesday's meeting >>> >>> >>> >>> Peter >>> >>> >>> >>> On Wed, Jun 21, 2023 at 10:49 PM Sara Mattes <[email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>> >>> Will options for the updated site plans be available on the website, in >>> advance? >>> >>> Sent from my iPhone >>> >>> > On Jun 21, 2023, at 5:04 PM, Peter von Mertens <[email protected] >>> > <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >>> > >>> > >>> > There will be a site visit prior to the Community Center Building >>> > Committee meeting next Wednesday, June 28. We will begin promptly at >>> > 6:30 in front of the Hartwell building. All are welcome. We will try >>> > to have printouts of the latest site designs from our architects >>> > >>> > The CCBC meeting is at 7:00 in the Hartwell Multipurpose room. >>> > >>> > Please come >>> > >>> > Peace Peter von Mertens >>> > -- >>> > The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> > To post, send mail to [email protected] >>> > <mailto:[email protected]>. >>> > Browse the archives at >>> > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> > Change your subscription settings at >>> > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> > >>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to [email protected] >>> <mailto:[email protected]>. >>> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >> -- >> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >> Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >> Change your subscription settings at >> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >> > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >
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