By Bill Cleary
The Gloucester City Senior Citizens Association have a proposed permanent meeting place at the Gloucester Heights Fire Hall on Nicholson Road.
Mayor William James and Councilman Nick Marchese met with representatives of the association March 27 to discuss the idea. James said the details still need to be worked out, \”but everyone was enthused about the proposal we presented to them.\”
At a recent council meeting the public was informed that Gloucester City received a $400,000 grant in 2005 from the state to build a new Senior Citizens Community Hall. But for some reason the previous administration did nothing with the money, they just let it sit there. It wasn\’t until the new members of council (James, Brophy, and Marchese) took office in January that movement on the project began.
James explained at the meeting the $400,000 grant will expired in November which means the money would be lost. \”Time doesn\’t permit for getting proposals and construction so it was decided to look for an alternative\”, he said.
After the new members of council took office in January James and Marchese met a couple times with the general membership of the association to discuss the building of a hall. Marchese said following those meetings the Mayor and he continued to meet with representatives of the organization to keep them informed.
Friday, March 30 Marchese released further details on the arrangements. He emphasized nothing has been finalized. He said the Fire Department will still be located in the building but will only utilize the side where the fire equipment is kept. \”With the money they receive from the sale of the hall the plans call for the construction of a second floor on top of the garage for the firemen’s use,\” said Marchese.
He said there is talk of building a monument to deceased firemen in Gloucester Heights using proceeds from the sale.
He further explained that one half of the hall will be section off for the use of the senior citizens on a daily basis. And the other half of the hall will be rented out for weddings and other functions. The City will own the property.
Both the Mayor and Marchese said there are still some details to be resolved. And the senior association’s executive board has to vote on the proposal.
More information on the specifics will follow as soon as they are released.
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