Newbury Select Board Discusses Potential Sites for Council on Aging Facility

The Newbury Select Board meeting focused on identifying and evaluating potential sites for a new Council on Aging facility. The discussion, hindered by a busy holiday schedule, highlighted the challenges of finding suitable land due to existing development and environmental constraints.

The board emphasized the importance of selecting a location that is accessible and centrally located to ensure it serves the community effectively. One member noted that being isolated, as they were when previously located at the school, reduced community engagement. The board is considering several town-owned parcels but acknowledged that many are unsuitable due to being marshland or lacking necessary infrastructure like septic systems.

Additionally, the board explored the possibility of funding the new facility through a capital campaign. The discussion included whether private donations could be utilized, with the suggestion of forming a separate 501(c)(3) organization to manage such funds, as the town is restricted in directly operating fundraising campaigns. The idea of involving prominent community members to spearhead a matching funds initiative was also brought up.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.

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