Public Comment: Bangs Community Center Unable to Meet Needs of Amherst’s 5500 Seniors
A bulletin board at the Amherst Senior Center. Photo: amherstma.gov
The following public comment was made at the meeting of the Amherst Town Council, January 8, 2024.
Good evening. My name is Dick Yourga. I am a 61 year resident of the town of Amherst. I currently serve as President of The Friends of the Amherst Senior Center. We are not a part of Amherst town government. We are an independent 501c3 not-for- profit organization that exists solely to support the Amherst Senior Center.
The Senior Center is just one of seven tenants of the Bangs Community Center. The Senior Center consists solely of the lounge and a small rabbit warren of offices. All of the dozens of classes, lectures, meetings and other Senior Center events are held in shared space which consists of only 3 rooms, one in the basement, one on the first floor and one on the second floor.
There is no dedicated room for exercise equipment. ARPA funds are supposed to be used for exercise space. Will they be? The Senior center has no certified commercial kitchen ARPA funds are supposed to be used to create one. Will they be?
The Senior Center is there to serve the growing needs of the over 5,500 Seniors living in Amherst. It’s your job to make decisions that make that possible. Please don’t abdicate that responsibility.
Richard Yourga is a 61 year resident of Amherst and President of the Friends of the Amherst Senior Center