News
Senior Center to remain open pending approval
Village may have to pay back grant if it does not comply with terms
By Paul Crossman
VALATIE — Joseph Rubito and Gail Hammond of the Office of Community Renewal met with Valatie Mayor Gary Strevell Thursday to discuss what some community members feel to be the continued misuse of the Valatie Senior Center.
For a time after it was built, the village had been using the center for a variety of different meetings and activities, until it was brought to light that this use was actually against the restrictions imposed by the grant which was used to build it.
The grant from the OCR stipulated that the money was for use specifically as a center for senior citizens and not a place for any other community activities, regardless of the benefit to members of the town. It is because of the village’s possible breach of that rule that the Office of Community Renewal has decided to look into the matter before finalizing the grant. If the OCR finds that the village continues to be non-compliant with the terms of the grant, it is possible that the village could be forced to return all the money which was funded, totaling more than $400,000.
The decision to provide funding for projects such as the senior center is based on a number of factors — including average community income — and because of this, while the village was eligible for a senior center grant, it would not have been eligible for most other ventures.
“If they had applied for a community center, they wouldn’t have gotten [the grant],” said Rubito, who went on to say that with the changes of administration and policy that had occurred in the last two years, he didn’t believe that Valatie would even have received a grant for the senior center if they had applied today.
Though everyone involved wants to do the best they can in the interests of the senior community, Rubito and the Office of Community Renewal seem to be stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place.
“The fact is, the money’s spent,” said Rubito. “My options are to get them in compliance, or take the money back. I have the authority to claw the money back from the village, and make them send me a check for $400,000, but in that case the only people that are hurt are the people of Valatie. It’s a tough option to exercise. I hope they comply.”
Kinderhook Town Supervisor Doug McGivney was upset about the misuse of the building, saying that for a fraction of the grant money Valatie received, the Kinderhook Senior Center could have been renovated beautifully.
Rubito and Strevell also talked about alternatives, if by chance the Valatie center couldn’t be used primarily for seniors. Some of these included uses as a center for battered women and children, or migrant farm workers.
Strevell maintains, though, that the building is used primarily for seniors and is confident the village will be able to be in compliance with all regulations required by the stipulations of the grant by the deadline of June 1.
If this is the case and the building continues to be a senior center, the Office of Community Renewal has high hopes that it will be successful in the future. “We want to see it being used eight hours a day, five days a week,” said Hammond.
Strevell said he believes that this hope will come to fruition in the not-so-distant future, pointing out that even on the date of the meeting the center was filled almost to capacity.
“Regardless of what other services that building may be used for,” Strevell told the Register-Star, “its main purpose is for a senior center. There were plenty of seniors there today to attest to that.”
McGivney expressed his disbelief at this possibility, especially with competing centers in the community. “I really don’t think you’re going to get senior participation five days a week, especially at both places,” he told Hammond.
McGivney’s biggest concern about the whole ordeal is all the time and resources being wasted through duplication of resources in both municipalities, which will likely take away volunteers and possible donations to both locations. According to the supervisor, people who volunteer to do projects or teach classes at the Kinderhook Senior Center will now be forced to choose which center they would prefer to donate their time to.
“I haven’t really seen where he’s supplying services,” said Strevell in response to the duplication issue. “It is unfortunate that our town supervisor continues to see this as a competition. There are some really unique differences between our centers.”
Rubito agreed at least in part with McGivney that the duplication of services was a potential problem, but that he really didn’t have many options other than ignoring the problem, or forcing Valatie to give the money back — neither of which he sees as very acceptable solutions.
“We’re in a tight spot,” said Rubito, “and it’s a very tight rope to walk.”
To help combat this problem, Rubito proposed that McGivney and Strevell sit down and discuss possible compromises, such as alternating activity days for seniors. McGivney expressed his willingness to discuss the issue, but as of yet no date for such a meeting has been set. Rubito also said he would attend the discussion and offer any help or advice he could to both sides.
“I don’t want to deny any senior what they are comfortable with,” said Strevell. “If they want to go to the center on State Farm Road, that’s fine.”
McGivney also expressed his hope that things could be worked out. “I don’t want to see the village of Valatie lose $400,000,” he said, “but on the other hand, I don’t want a situation where neither senior center can be a success.”
Regardless of these problems, both Strevell and Rubito viewed the meeting as a success.
“Overall, it was a productive, constructive meeting,” said Rubito. “We have faith we will be able to work something out.”
Though the meeting helped clear up some of the matters with both parties, it seems that at least one person who has the desire and the position to be of assistance in the matter was left in the dark.
“As a village board member, I was unaware of this meeting,” said Valatie Village Board member Helen Schneider, who claims she asked about the date of such a meeting on the Tuesday just before it occurred.
Though she said she feels she should have been informed, Schneider still hopes she will be able to be of service to the senior center issue in the future.
“I am willing to work with Mayor Strevell on anything that needs to be done to comply with the grant, for the sake of the people of the village. We can’t possibly afford to give back the money,” Schneider told the Register-Star. “This should all have been done right in the first place.”
By Paul Crossman
VALATIE — Joseph Rubito and Gail Hammond of the Office of Community Renewal met with Valatie Mayor Gary Strevell Thursday to discuss what some community members feel to be the continued misuse of the Valatie Senior Center.
For a time after it was built, the village had been using the center for a variety of different meetings and activities, until it was brought to light that this use was actually against the restrictions imposed by the grant which was used to build it.
The grant from the OCR stipulated that the money was for use specifically as a center for senior citizens and not a place for any other community activities, regardless of the benefit to members of the town. It is because of the village’s possible breach of that rule that the Office of Community Renewal has decided to look into the matter before finalizing the grant. If the OCR finds that the village continues to be non-compliant with the terms of the grant, it is possible that the village could be forced to return all the money which was funded, totaling more than $400,000.
The decision to provide funding for projects such as the senior center is based on a number of factors — including average community income — and because of this, while the village was eligible for a senior center grant, it would not have been eligible for most other ventures.
“If they had applied for a community center, they wouldn’t have gotten [the grant],” said Rubito, who went on to say that with the changes of administration and policy that had occurred in the last two years, he didn’t believe that Valatie would even have received a grant for the senior center if they had applied today.
Though everyone involved wants to do the best they can in the interests of the senior community, Rubito and the Office of Community Renewal seem to be stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place.
“The fact is, the money’s spent,” said Rubito. “My options are to get them in compliance, or take the money back. I have the authority to claw the money back from the village, and make them send me a check for $400,000, but in that case the only people that are hurt are the people of Valatie. It’s a tough option to exercise. I hope they comply.”
Kinderhook Town Supervisor Doug McGivney was upset about the misuse of the building, saying that for a fraction of the grant money Valatie received, the Kinderhook Senior Center could have been renovated beautifully.
Rubito and Strevell also talked about alternatives, if by chance the Valatie center couldn’t be used primarily for seniors. Some of these included uses as a center for battered women and children, or migrant farm workers.
Strevell maintains, though, that the building is used primarily for seniors and is confident the village will be able to be in compliance with all regulations required by the stipulations of the grant by the deadline of June 1.
If this is the case and the building continues to be a senior center, the Office of Community Renewal has high hopes that it will be successful in the future. “We want to see it being used eight hours a day, five days a week,” said Hammond.
Strevell said he believes that this hope will come to fruition in the not-so-distant future, pointing out that even on the date of the meeting the center was filled almost to capacity.
“Regardless of what other services that building may be used for,” Strevell told the Register-Star, “its main purpose is for a senior center. There were plenty of seniors there today to attest to that.”
McGivney expressed his disbelief at this possibility, especially with competing centers in the community. “I really don’t think you’re going to get senior participation five days a week, especially at both places,” he told Hammond.
McGivney’s biggest concern about the whole ordeal is all the time and resources being wasted through duplication of resources in both municipalities, which will likely take away volunteers and possible donations to both locations. According to the supervisor, people who volunteer to do projects or teach classes at the Kinderhook Senior Center will now be forced to choose which center they would prefer to donate their time to.
“I haven’t really seen where he’s supplying services,” said Strevell in response to the duplication issue. “It is unfortunate that our town supervisor continues to see this as a competition. There are some really unique differences between our centers.”
Rubito agreed at least in part with McGivney that the duplication of services was a potential problem, but that he really didn’t have many options other than ignoring the problem, or forcing Valatie to give the money back — neither of which he sees as very acceptable solutions.
“We’re in a tight spot,” said Rubito, “and it’s a very tight rope to walk.”
To help combat this problem, Rubito proposed that McGivney and Strevell sit down and discuss possible compromises, such as alternating activity days for seniors. McGivney expressed his willingness to discuss the issue, but as of yet no date for such a meeting has been set. Rubito also said he would attend the discussion and offer any help or advice he could to both sides.
“I don’t want to deny any senior what they are comfortable with,” said Strevell. “If they want to go to the center on State Farm Road, that’s fine.”
McGivney also expressed his hope that things could be worked out. “I don’t want to see the village of Valatie lose $400,000,” he said, “but on the other hand, I don’t want a situation where neither senior center can be a success.”
Regardless of these problems, both Strevell and Rubito viewed the meeting as a success.
“Overall, it was a productive, constructive meeting,” said Rubito. “We have faith we will be able to work something out.”
Though the meeting helped clear up some of the matters with both parties, it seems that at least one person who has the desire and the position to be of assistance in the matter was left in the dark.
“As a village board member, I was unaware of this meeting,” said Valatie Village Board member Helen Schneider, who claims she asked about the date of such a meeting on the Tuesday just before it occurred.
Though she said she feels she should have been informed, Schneider still hopes she will be able to be of service to the senior center issue in the future.
“I am willing to work with Mayor Strevell on anything that needs to be done to comply with the grant, for the sake of the people of the village. We can’t possibly afford to give back the money,” Schneider told the Register-Star. “This should all have been done right in the first place.”
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