While the Marion Board of Selectmen was interviewing Elizabeth Howe, one of three candidates for the Council on Aging Director position to come before the board during the special meeting on February 23, she made mention of an imminent situation with the VFW building.
About a month ago, the selectmen learned that the Veterans of Foreign Wars building on Mill Street would be vacant effective June 30, and they are now considering using the building as a senior center for the Town of Marion.
Selectman Stephen Cushing said dwindling membership had forced the organization’s hand. Acting Town Administrator Judith Mooney said the VFW is currently working with their legal team to review options, one of which would be to donate the land and building to the town.
Selectman Jody Dickerson said everything was very premature, but the fire chief and the town’s facility manager had both taken a “walk-through” of the VFW building and found it to be structurally sound.
“There would need to be moderate updates and improvements,” Dickerson cautioned. Not wanting to be overly optimistic, and being mindful that the voters will have the final say, Mooney reiterated that it was too early to say much more than what had been shared.
Both selectmen noted that if all goes well, the donation will be put before the voters as soon as the spring town meeting.
Regarding Howe’s interview, she explained through a series of questions alternately put to her by the selectmen that she possesses a deep background in community involvement, social services, and program development, although it has been primarily in museum operations. Her personal experience with her elderly mother, however, had heightened her awareness of the growing needs of an aging population, one that she felt she was ready to serve.
Howe also shared through questioning that every job requires a certain amount of marketing and selling capabilities and to that end, she felt fully qualified to help the town secure expanded programs, resident involvement, and funding. Howe resides in Mattapoisett.
Cynthia Byers, another candidate for the position, is currently relocating from Connecticut to Onset. She said that when she read the job posting, she thought, “The things you are looking for I possess … compassion and the right background.”
Byers is currently working for the State of Connecticut in human services. She had been a CNA, has a degree in mental health, has worked with disabled and cognitively-impaired persons, and set-up an Alzheimer’s program.
Heather Sylvia, the third candidate, is a lifelong New Bedford resident and the past outreach coordinator for the Acushnet COA. She is currently completing her bachelor’s degree at UMD and has promised her teenage son that she will graduate in the spring “before he starts there in the fall.” She is presently working for the New Bedford Council on Aging as a coordinator. Sylvia has eight years experience working for local councils on aging.
All three candidates were asked how they would handle personnel issues, what their communication style and strengths are, and how they would deal with public scrutiny, operations and budgets, and short- and long-term planning. Each offered examples highlighting their abilities.
Each candidate also believed that with a growing aging population of seniors, services would become increasingly important. Each said that the word “senior” should be replaced with “community” when discussing a center to house COA services.
Dickerson said the selectmen would announce their choice for the position at the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors.
By Marilou Newell