Selectmen Approve Status for Director in Westbrook, Connecticut

WESTBROOK - In some ways, the Westbrook Senior Center is a victim of its own success.

Seven months ago the facility was in danger of closing after the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development expressed concerns about several issues of the center and threatened to take back the $600,000 grant it gave the town if the issues were not solved.

Just recently, First Selectman Noel Bishop said he received a letter from Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal's office which stated that the center has come a long way and that they are pleased at how the town is moving forward.

This success has led Senior Center Management Committee Chairman Phil Einsmann to request approval from the Board of Selectmen for $8,704.88 for a full-time senior center director and money for supplies and programs.

The request was granted by the Board of Selectmen with financing for the full-time position pending union approval.

Now the request will move to the Board of Finance for their approval.

Einsmann said Senior Center Director Sharon Lassard is paid $16 an hour for 4.5 hours a week to operate the center.

Lassard also is paid 15 hours a week as the town's Municipal Agent for the Elderly in an office located in the senior center.

Lassard's commitment to the senior center means that she works as director more than the 4.5 hours she is paid for, Einsmann said.

"She is not getting properly compensated," said Parks and Recreation Director Rich Annino, who sees Lassard frequently around Town Hall.

Selectmen approved the committee's proposal to make the job a full-time, 20 hour a week union position with benefits.

This would increase the director's salary by $3,610.88 and create a job description detailing responsibilities and qualifications for the position.

Previously the director was paid $1,048.32 a year and the new salary raises that to $4,659.20.

The committee has already drawn up a one-page sheet with the job description's summary, responsibilities, and qualifications.

It is expected that the union will review the description to see whether the pay is commensurate with the responsibilities required for the position.

Einsmann said the full-time position meets a need that simply cannot be filled by volunteers.

"Volunteers do not have authority like the director has and are not trained, we had one incident where a person had an accident and a director has to be there to call 911," said Einsmann.

According to the job description, the director "reports to the Senior Center Management Committee and seeks guidance and support from the chairman and/or committee members as needed. The director oversees the center's operations, including the activities, services, and programs, plus the fiscal management of such activities, services and programs. The director supervises all volunteers."

The remaining $4,464 that the Board of Selectmen approved is needed to finance supplies and programs.

According to financial statements provided by Einsmann, the center is expected to spend $3,165 for supplies and $3,125 for programs totaling $6,290.

The current budget supplies $1,826.00 of that cost.

Einsmann predicts the center will receive $3,851,000 in projected income based on donations made by those who attend breakfast meals, soup and sandwich meals, and special events which have included a craft fair, holiday party, and picnic.

It is estimated that between 20 and 25 participants usually attend the center's functions.

Statements show the committee has already collected $3,714.16 between Nov. 21, 2007 and Feb. 20, 2008.

For Selectman Jim Crawford, the Board's decision on the matter changes the way the town conducts business since for the past two years "there has been a lot of inaction."