By JON BAKER

LINCOLN — The Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to pass a resolution to relocate plans for a new, 11,000 square-foot senior center from Lime Acres Park across Jenckes Hill Road to a four-acre parcel of town-owned land next to the middle school.

The five-member council also voted unanimously to appoint John Robinson, president of Robinson Designs Inc. of Smithfield, as the architect.
For months, a sub-committee to the Capital Improvements Committee had hoped to build the center — estimated to cost $3-3.7 million — on the old baseball field located at Lime Acres Park.
However, because that land had been constructed with federal funds over a half-century ago, and a wetland area sits nearby, the town would have had to seek approval from the federal government, and also build a new ball field on middle school property to replace the old one.
In addition, it would have to apply for a number of permits due to such wetlands.
Pure and simple, moving the center across the street made the process much easier.
“My viewpoint on Tuesday night was the same as when I first heard about it last week,” said Councilman John Flynn, who represents Lonsdale (District 2). “It would’ve been nice to have a new ball field, a major-league sized version of the new Little League field that’s being finished behind Lonsdale Elementary School. But the old plan, it just wasn’t workable.
“The new ball field would’ve taken up more space than the senior center (at Lime Acres),” he added. “A field that size, with everything that goes with it — a parking lot, bleachers, perhaps a a concession stand — there just wasn't enough room ... I'm happy that this new idea for the senior center fits into this four-acre segment without drifting into wetlands.
“Everyone was behind this 100 percent. Everyone had the same sentiment —that the people who have lived in this community for so many years are going to get something they deserve. They’re going to get a new, modern place to congregate, and they will have the ability to take part in many new activities.”
Flynn noted that Robinson was chosen as the architect because he provided the lowest cost for the project design -- $311,900. The subcommittee, of which Flynn is a member and Council President Ronald McKenna of Manville chairs, whittled the number of would-be architects from 10 down to one back in December.
“Once the design is created, we will advertise for a construction company,” Flynn offered.
See LINCOLN, Page A-2
“We’re hoping for groundbreaking sometime this summer. Mr. Robinson will meet weekly with the sub-committee so we can discuss with him what we want; we’ll be working with him to develop the plans … I’m hoping it will be built by September of 2010 because we need to get the seniors a new home, as the current place is just inadequate.”
Stated McKenna: “I think it’s a great idea. First of all, this saves the town more than $500,000 dollars in what would have been the necessary relocation of the baseball field, and the site is also double the size of the Lime Acres ball field. After the Town Administrator (T. Joseph Almond) explained the details and the process of moving the center across the street, we (as council members) made remarks, but we needed only 10 minutes to decide.
“When it comes to the architect, we’re going to go with a LEEDS-certified building, meaning -- in essence -- it will be an energy-efficient, ‘green’ facility,” he continued. “Initially, that will cost a little more, but that amount will be made up in two or three years. The way I view this, I don’t know of another senior center in the state that has been built like this one will be. Once we break ground, we’ll have a better idea as to how long it will take to construct.”
According to Councilman Keith Macksoud, who represents this Lime Rock locale, the move made perfect sense.
“I think everyone did a good job in prioritizing what the town needs; it makes more sense to keep the ball field where it is and just do the constructing of a senior center across the street next to the middle school,” he said. “The Lime Rock Park will remain the same, though improvements are scheduled for the old ball field, meaing it will be updated. For that matter, so will the tennis and basketball courts on the property, and other areas.
“The only negative to it is that middle school children still will have to cross the street in order to use that current field,” he added. “The good news is that I was successful in having the crosswalk placed (near that site), at no cost to the town, last year. That makes it safer for the kids. I’m also looking forward to working with our state representatives to have that crosswalk lighted sometime this year.”