Ayer Launches Feasibility Forum for New COA Center for Active Living

AYER — September 30, 2019 — Ayer kicks off community visioning for a new Council on Aging center, targeting construction funding within two years. Town Manager Robert Monkman told the public forum that a $30,000 feasibility study, authorized at the 2018 town meeting, is designed to produce a building program and design ready for a voter-funding vote. COA Director Karen Swanfield described the existing facility as a 2,000-square-foot basement space with 17 parking spots, seating for only 24 at lunch, and no private area for confidential client work, calling it inadequate after two decades of service. Director of Community and Economic Development Alan Manoyan presented figures showing residents 65 and older represent about 17 percent of Ayer's roughly 8,000-person population — the town's fastest-growing demographic — and that nearly 18 percent of that group lives at or below the poverty line. Swanfield proposed renaming any new facility the COA Center for Active Living, and audience members ranked more space, more activities, and more parking as the top priorities for improvement. No building site has been identified.