The Canton Woods Senior Center is in need of donations in order to continue to provide the same services to its participants.
Van Buren Town Councilor Howard Tupper told the board and those in attendance at the July 7 board meeting that the center needs help from the community to continue operations.
“The center was running a deficit last year, which had to be made up out of this year’s budget,” Tupper told the Messenger. “The money came from the reserve funds, plus a generous donation from the Senior Activity account, totaling about $10,000. In past years we have used the reserve funds for needed capital improvements. The account has slowly dwindled to the point where other sources of capital are required to operate the center. Fundraising efforts have been miniscule, and self-sufficiency is out of the question. The situation is unsustainable.”
Tupper said the town of Van Buren doesn’t have the money to increase its contribution to the center because of its own funding mandates, budgetary limitations and infrastructure needs. He said the county took on some of the center’s costs a couple of years ago, namely the salaries of the Community Outreach program, but “reality has caught up again.”
“My appeal for help from the community is based on the need for the services provided by the center, a way of life for many of those who attend,” Tupper said. “Money, of course, is the primary need, [but we’re also soliciting] ideas to generate fundraising.”
If you have ideas to help raise money for the Canton Woods Senior Center, contact Tupper or other members of the town or Canton Woods board.
Also on the agenda
-Roof replacement: The board voted to accept bids until Aug. 14 for the replacement of the town hall roof.
The roof, which dates back to 1989, has leakage and drainage problems. When the town built an addition for the court, the construction company used the town hall portion as storage for their materials, which crushed the insulation and some of the supports inside the original roof, leading to “ponding” of water on the top of the roof that couldn’t drain off, according to town engineer Jason Hoy.
Supervisor Claude Sykes said the chimney would be removed as well, and seals for the air conditioning system would be replaced.
“It’s definitely needed,” Councilor Pat Dickman said.
Bids are due by 10 a.m. Aug. 14 at the town hall.
-Trash haulers: The town board approved trash hauler licenses for Syracuse Haulers, Dependable Disposal and Morgan Rubbish Removal.
Town Clerk Lynn McCormick-Precourt said the haulers must comply with the town’s 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. noise ordinance; Councilors Ron Dudzinski and Pat Dickman noted that some haulers have made pickups as early as 4:30 a.m. and have ignored posted warnings not to turn left onto Walker Boulevard, disturbing residents.
-Fest-ravaganza: The board voted to allow pony rides at the Van Buren Fest-ravaganza, which took place Sunday at Van Buren Central Park.
Normally, the park does not allow horses or ponies, but the board made an exception because of the popularity of pony rides at Seneca River Day last month, Tupper said.
Event coordinator Mike Samoraj of Willow Health and Wellness Center has hosted similar “Fest-ravaganza” events in the town of Lysander.
“This thing he’s doing here will hopefully attract people to the park,” Sykes said.
-Road millings: The town is limiting the quantity of road millings residents can purchase to two loads per address so it can reserve millings for its own road projects.
A six-wheeler load of millings costs $75 and a 10-wheeler load costs $100.
“It’s more than enough for the average citizen,” Highway Superintendent Doug Foster said.
The town will deliver loads to residents, and property owners who want more than two loads can sign up with the town if there are extra millings available.
-Henderson Boulevard: Thanks to a door-to-door effort from Councilor Darcie Lesniak and Highway Superintendent Doug Foster, enough residents of Henderson Boulevard completed an income survey to restore the area’s $125,000 Community Development Block Grant for drainage improvements.
