Joint Board Negotiates Senior Center Design Funding with Checkpoints
Joint boards approve $250K Senior Center design phase with mandatory checkpoints. The Select Board, Planning Board, and Finance Committee unanimously recommended a $250,000 appropriation from the Parks and Recreation Revolving Fund for the Senior/Community Center project at the former Masonic
Planning Board · Meeting of April 23, 2026
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA — Joint boards approve $250K Senior Center design phase with mandatory checkpoints. The Select Board, Planning Board, and Finance Committee unanimously recommended a $250,000 appropriation from the Parks and Recreation Revolving Fund for the Senior/Community Center project at the former Masonic Lodge, reduced from the original $350,000 request. Finance Committee Chair Sarah Mellish and members had raised concerns about the project's estimated cost escalation from $2.5 million to $3 million to approximately $6 million to $7 million, its absence from the Capital Plan, and the compressed decision timeline.
Town Administrator Tony Barletta proposed contractual checkpoints at 30 percent and 75 percent design completion, allowing both the Select Board and Finance Committee to reassess scope and cost before authorizing further work. Architect John Hardin of Olson Lewis confirmed the revised scope was achievable and reduced fees by $87,500 if limited to 75 percent design.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 324 words
Source: the Planning Board meeting of April 23, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
Members read the rest of this story and every Manchester-by-the-Sea meeting we cover, in full.
Become a memberAlready a member? Sign inA 30-day free trial needs a payment method. After it, your membership renews at the price shown at checkout until you cancel, which you can do anytime from your account. Subscription terms
Share this brief
Know someone in Manchester-by-the-Sea who follows town government? Share Townbrief Manchester-by-the-Sea: they can sign up free.