Pembroke Explores Options for Vacant Council on Aging Building
Recreation Director Proposes Multi-Generational "Community Hive" with Adult Day Programs and Teen Center
PEMBROKE - May 7 - The Pembroke Select Board heard a detailed proposal May 7 for repurposing the vacant Council on Aging building into a multi-generational community space that would serve both seniors and teens.
Recreation Director Lance Kennedy presented a vision for what he called "The Community Hive," a facility that would house adult day programs for seniors, a teen center, and potentially a small café or smoothie shop operated by a local business.
"We're excited for the opportunity to share what we think could be a good use of that facility," Kennedy told the board during its May 7 meeting.
The building has been vacant for nearly a year since the Council on Aging relocated to the new community center on June 1, 2024.
Kennedy's proposal focuses on addressing two community needs: providing day services for seniors with early-stage dementia and creating a dedicated space for teens to gather.
"The adult day program will provide a safe structure environment for our seniors requiring daytime supervision," Kennedy explains. "We're focusing to start early on with a social model, providing social and recreational activities."
The program would offer transportation, trained staff, nutritional meals, and memory support while giving caregivers much-needed respite. Kennedy proposes partnering with third-party agencies to operate the program rather than staffing it through the town.
"We've already talked with several of these agencies and they support Pembroke members that have to go to Plymouth, that have to go to Hingham," Kennedy says. "We'd love to see that in-house and be able to support that."
For teens, the facility would offer a drop-in model different from the structured programming at the community center. It would include pool tables, ping-pong tables, and potentially a music room or podcast space.
"These kids want to get out of the house, they want to be with their friends, but how do I provide a space that they feel comfortable in and that they can call their own?" Kennedy says.
The proposal also includes bringing in a local business to operate a small café that would serve both the senior day program and the teen center, generating rental income to help maintain the building.
Select Board members expressed interest in the concept but emphasized the need for a comprehensive study of the building's potential uses and renovation costs before making any decisions.
"I think it's way too early for committing to a program like this," says Select Board member Dan Trabucco. "I think that this board needs to have a study committee to look into what the best uses are, what the available spaces are in there and what refurbishment they need."
Select Board member Steve Ciciotti agreed that gathering information is an important first step but stressed the need to address the growing number of vacant town buildings.
"We've got Hatch building that's empty. We've got now the old Council on Aging building that's empty. We're about to have an empty police station because we're gonna have a new public safety building. We're gonna have an empty fire station," Ciciotti says. "We can't let these things continue to build up."
Town Manager Bill Chenard notes that any use of the building should maximize economic benefit while balancing the needs of residents.
"If we are going to use it for needs of the town, that we maximize the economic benefit of that. And not in the sense that we make our leases so high that we're passing huge costs on to our residents," Chenard says.
Chenard adds that there are two potential paths for the building: a shared use among town departments or leasing it entirely to a private entity. He emphasizes that any improvements to the building should be built into the cost structure of any lease agreement.
The board took no formal action on the proposal but will continue to gather information about potential uses for the building.
In other business, the Select Board announces an exciting civic engagement opportunity for Pembroke's younger residents during the upcoming town election on May 17.
The town is launching a kids' ballot for residents under 18 years old to vote on a pressing question: Is a hot dog a sandwich?
"While the grown-ups vote on Town Matters, our younger community members will get the chance to cast their vote in a very important question," says Select Board Chair Tracy Marino.
The initiative grew out of a collaboration with Brownie Troop 77434, which was working to earn their Democracy for Brownies badge. The troop had organized a debate on the hot dog question, which ended in a tie vote.
"The girls are super excited about this, they've been sharing it with everybody," Marino says. "The plan is that Andy McKettrick, our town clerk, will announce the results along with our official election results."
The kids' ballot will be available during early voting at Town Hall through May 14 and on Election Day at the community center.
Other Meeting Highlights:
- The board accepted a $1,500 donation from local businesses to support the return of the Easter Egg Hunt, which had been on hiatus for five years
- The Friends of the Community Center received a $25,000 grant from the Sala Foundation
- Town Manager Chenard provided an update on the public safety building project, noting that bids are due next week and recent similar projects have come in under budget
- The board approved door-to-door solicitation permits for Seaport Pest Solutions and Power Home Remodeling
- The annual town meeting is scheduled for May 13 at 7 p.m. at Pembroke High School