RUMFORD — Members of the Rumford Senior Center voted Wednesday morning to move from their current building on Congress Street to the former Peru Elementary School.
Center President Barbara Morse announced the potential move during a members’ meeting Wednesday morning, three weeks after she first told the Senior Center that they would have to move out of their current building by Oct. 1 due to an increase in rent.
Morse said on Aug. 21 that the Greater Rumford Community Center informed the Senior Center that its rent would be increasing to $1,000 a month shortly after the second budget vote on July 23.
“I mean, we could maybe afford $400 a month, maybe $500, but as a nonprofit group, $1,000 is out of our reach,” Morse said.
The rent hike, according to building owner and Greater Rumford Community Center Chairman Gary Dolloff, was due to the town rejecting the proposed GRCC budget during the June election.
As the Senior Center members’ meeting began, Morse told those present that Nick Waugh, chairman of the Friends of the Old Peru School Committee, offered to allow the Senior Center to move into the former Peru Elementary School for $350 a month.
“The Peru Elementary School is as good of an offer as we can get right now,” Morse told members. “We were impressed with what they offered us, and we’re here today to discuss whether it’s the right move for the Center.”
The cost of rent, according to Morse, included the price to heat the building and would give members space to hold their events.
One of the main issues that members had with the move was whether or not certain members would be able to make it to Peru for meetings.
“For some people, they may find it difficult to attend functions if we move to Peru,” Morse said. “If there were three or four people who needed a ride to Peru for bingo or something else, I’m sure that my volunteers could help out. I know I can count on them.”
When one member said she didn’t know if she could make it to Peru, another woman responded, “Just stand out on the side of the road with your thumb sticking out and I’ll come get you,” which drew laughter from the rest of the members.
Of the 21 members who attended the meeting, a majority of them voted to approve the move to the Peru Elementary School.
Morse said she would contact Waugh soon to see how soon they could move into the new building.
mdaigle@sunjournal.com
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- Rumford Senior Center President Barbara Morse, left, talks to members of the Senior Center on Wednesday morning about moving to the former Peru Elementary School. The majority voted to do so.
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