Residents Hold Feet to Fire Regarding Senior Fitness Classes

Two Burlington residents appeared before the Select Board last night for the second time this season to advocate for a dedicated space for their senior fitness classes.

For the last three years, says Myrna Saltman, a group of seniors who exercise at the Council on aging have been ousted from their regular exercise space due to scheduling of Recreation Department programs. For a part of the summer, the exercise class works out at Grand View Farm. But, says Saltman, for six weeks in the summer that space is being used for Recreation programs, as well, and so the active seniors and their workout class have no home.

Council on Aging Director, Marge Yetman, and Parks & Recreation Director, Brendan Egan, listened along with the Select Board as Myrna and her companion, Paula Anton, explained the situation and called for a solution. The issue sits with the two departments, noted Select Board Chair, Joe Morandi, as they control their schedules, programming, and facilities.

For Egan and Yetman's parts, they say they do their best to schedule programming that works for the maximum possible number of Burlington residents. That offered little comfort to Saltman and Anton, who expressed feeling deprioritized and undervalued, only able to get space for their regular class if a Recreation Department program was canceled.

Select Board member, Sarah Cawley, stated that there needs to be more collaboration among departments, and Saltman suggested this could be achieved more easily if Burlington had a Town Manager, who would have expanded authority compared with a Town Administrator.

Yetman and Egan agreed with the suggestion from Town Administrator Paul Sagarino to prioritize maintaining space for these senior fitness classes when planning for next summer.

Also at Select Board:

• Appointments were made to the police, fire, and public works departments, as well as to the town's internet security committee.
• Parks & Recreation Week was proclaimed; the proclamation highlighted the benefits of structured recreation for physical and mental health and its importance as a social outlet.
• This year's Community Beer Gardens, held by the Economic Development Department, will occur on September 5, 12, 19, and 26, at the at the Community Corner Pocket Park on Moran Ave (next to Coldwell Banker & True North).
• Potential Warrant Articles to refine the language of "experiential retail," a zoning category that was introduced a few years ago at Town Meeting, and to institute a temporary sign policy, were introduced to the Select Board. No vote was necessary at this time.
• The development project at Kent Cottage on Middlesex Turnpike has the go-ahead to begin. This project, according to proponents, would restore the Kent Cottage and add multifamily housing on the property while being careful to maintain the historic look and feel of the original building and be conscious of the surrounding wetlands.
• The committee that was formed to look at the pros and cons of having an appointed versus elected Town Clerk will have their first meeting tomorrow. One resident spoke during public participation against the move to appointed, emphasizing the importance of voice for this essential role.
• A few transfers totaling just over $66,000 were approved to true up the town's account balances for the end of the fiscal year.

The next Select Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 12.