The Vernon Town Council on Tuesday voted 7-4 to approve a contract to construct a 6,600 square foot building adjacent to the Vernon Senior Center to accommodate the center’s rapidly growing membership and expanding activities.
The council approved a contract with Pelletier Construction Management in an amount not to exceed $1,869,000 to construct a 78-foot by 85-foot metal building at 147 Bolton Road. Federal grant funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) will pay for the project. Construction is expected to begin about July 1, 2025.
Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne on Wednesday announced news of the new building to senior center members gathered for the annual Christmas celebration. Those in attendance cheered the news.
“We’re at 4,000 members now,” Mayor Champagne said. “We were at 835 members when we opened the new senior center in 2018. We have grown substantially and will continue to grow.”
The new building will enable the senior center to host larger groups for its events and add a greater variety of athletic activities, Mayor Champagne said.
“We need a higher ceiling and more room,” Mayor Champagne said. “It’s very important that our seniors stay active.”
The council previously authorized the purchase of the property for the new building with ARPA funds.
“Vernon offers a tremendous variety of facilities and programs for children and families,” Mayor Champagne said. “We have made significant investments in athletic fields, a new pool at Henry Park, and improvements to our trails and parks. We owe our seniors an expansion to the facility that is important to so many of them.”
ARPA funds must be allocated and contracts approved by Dec. 31, otherwise the money