Board OKs temp senior center closing

Due to latest COVID order

Selectmen agreed to close the senior center amid a spike in coronavirus.

TOWNSEND » Although the calendar listed a hefty agenda for Tuesday night’s meeting, the selectmen whisked most of it off the table early on, after Town Administrator James Kreidler informed them of a posting glitch.

As a result, the board agreed to put most items off until the next meeting, with two exceptions: the tax classification hearing and a brief discussion about whether to close the senior center

ouncil on Aging Director Director Karin Canfield Moore said she came expecting more input, but the outcome seemed clear to begin with.

Kreidler cited Gov. Charlie Baker’s recent COVID-19 order, which due to the recent spike in cases, rolls back the re-opening process to an earlier stage in the pandemic. Specifically, to Phase

3, Level I.

The decision to close the senior center was based on that information, he said, noting that emails to that

effect were sent out.

“I had thought we would discuss it more,” Moore said.

But she conceded that it was a moot point by then, since the decision to shut down had already been made.

Made by whom, Selectman Veronica Kell wanted to know. “I didn’t vote on that,” she said.

Moore didn’t disagree that it was a prudent move, in any case.

Noting that other area towns have closed their senior centers and are focusing for now on outreach and meals rather than inhouse programs, she said Townsend will do the

same, starting Monday.

Programs scheduled for the rest of the current week will go on as planned, she said.

She said that she and program coordinator Katie Petrossi had been super safety conscious about the senior center’s already limited calendar since it reopened on a limited basis.

For example, they checked people’s temperatures at the door, discontinued allowing New Hampshire patrons to attend programs, asked local attendees if they had recently gathered in large groups and limited the number of people allowed in to 50.