Council calls to keep center open, city ready to close it

By John Howell
Posted 2/28/17

By JOHN HOWELL The city is moving ahead with the mayor's plan to close the Buttonwoods Community Center tomorrow, even though the City Council unanimously approved a resolution last Wednesday to keep it open. In an email response following the vote,

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Council calls to keep center open, city ready to close it

Posted

The city is moving ahead with the mayor’s plan to close the Buttonwoods Community Center tomorrow, even though the City Council unanimously approved a resolution last Wednesday to keep it open.

In an email response following the vote, Mayor Scott Avedisian said the resolution introduced by freshman Ward 7 Councilman Steve McAllister hasn’t changed his opinion to close the center that provides office space for the city’s Department of Human Services, program space for job training and school programs run by Westbay Community Action and Comprehensive Community Action (CCAP) and has been a base for senior groups that meet there to play cards and bingo.

One of those card groups, the Warwick High Lo Jack Card League, which will start playing this Friday at the Pilgrim Senior Center, held its last game at Buttonwoods Monday.

“It’s really kind of sad,” said Ray Walsh, who runs the league and remembers donating pictures to be hung at the center when it opened 25 years ago. League members, who number 67, brought in pizza, cookies and other delights for a potluck lunch.

The mayor puts the cost of operating the building at $74,426.60. The administration further estimates repairs and renovations at $463,000. The center generates $26,400 in rental income.

Avedisian plans to advertise the building for sale.

Chief of Staff and director of the Department of Public Works David Picozzi said Sunday that Westbay Community Action may remain at the center for an indefinite period as the agency firms up rental space elsewhere but that basically the center is ready to close. Department of Human Services will be on Range Road in a trailer the city has used for offices and where it had once been located. Bingo has been relocated to the JONAH building in Oakland Beach and the card leagues will meet at the Pilgrim Senior Center and Sts. Rose and Clement Church.

Nonetheless, in response to pleas to save Buttonwoods from seniors and talks he’s had with Westbay, McAllister has requested for him and Council President Joseph Solomon to meet with Avedisian.

“It’s where they socialize,” McAllister said of senior groups. “If they close the building they’re not going to see their friends.”

McAllister put the number of seniors using the center weekly at 400. The administration put it at about 100 fewer. The center is also used for community meetings and as a polling location.

While closure of the center has been talked about for the past couple of months, McAllister said Westbay just received notification. In his conversations with the agency, McAllister said he was told Westbay is willing to pay more to stay at Buttonwoods. He said the center is close to Westbay offices on Buttonwoods Avenue, on a bus stop and at a traffic light.

Wesbay executive director Paul Salera said Monday the agency would welcome the opportunity to rent additional space at Buttonwoods. He said if the center became available he would relocate the Westbay Marketplace, a food pantry for the needy, to the building as well as increase young programming at the center

“Westbay is going to help the city any way it can to keep it operational. The city is a partner with us,” he said.

Depending on the space made available, Salera said Westbay could afford an additional $15,000 in rent.

McAllister offers other ideas to ease the burden on the taxpayers. He said he has talked with contractors who are looking for opportunities to train employees who he believes would work on replacing the roof, which is estimated at $60,000, as the most pressing of the repairs.

In addition, McAllister thinks one of the towers used in connection with the landing system at Green Airport could be located on the property and become a source of $1,500 in monthly revenues. He said the tower is being relocated as part of the extension to Runway 5.

The mayor also points out that Cooper Armory on Sandy Lane, which primarily will be used for youth activities in partnership with the Warwick Boys and Girls Clubs, offers additional space for community use.

McAllister said he wanted his resolution to pass the City Council before meeting with the mayor about keeping Buttonwoods open.

Solomon said Monday “it is always good to have something like that [the center],” adding that the decision whether to operate the center rests with the administration, not the council that is the legislative body. He said he would “hate to close a door on city services.”

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  • Thecaptain

    For all of you seniors that keep voting for Avedisian, this is your reward. The mayor didnt blink an eye when he just gave the fire fighters a sick day bonus of $1, 092,421.00 He continues to allow the WFD to engage in wide spread fraud and corruption for the sole purpose of enrichment, yet slashes every service line item in the budget. While he closes the senior center, at the same time the firefighters now want another un-budgeted $1 million dollars for 2 new pump trucks. One major fire in the last 10 years and they screwed it up. With a 23 million dollar budget they dont think twice about anything except how to scam the system. Calling out sick, trading off days, paying others to call out sick, the game has been going on for years to the tune of millions. Now the WFD even has the balls to come to the council to request NEW APPLIANCES so the hero's can cook their daily thanksgiving like dinners. Tomorrow night at 6 pm I hope you all go the council meeting and let the city council know that it is time to shut off the money spigot to the Warwick Fire Department until an audit is conducted and their budget is controlled. Anyone that would like to see the latest financial documents can get them by sending me an email to cartaxrevolt@aol.com.

    Tuesday, February 28, 2017 Report this