Punch list for RiverMills is getting shorter

Date: 4/17/2015

CHICOPEE – Work is progressing on completing the list of projects at the RiverMills Center.

As reported last week, there is a punch list at the new senior center, and the Council of Aging (COA) heard an update on what has been done in the past week to finish it at its meeting on April 14.

Addressing the COA, Mayor Richard Kos, who recently appointed two people to the COA – including his Chief of Staff Mary Moge – said, “There seems to be a lot of issues. We have a full complement now.”

Kos suggested a subcommittee be formed to work on the list of remaining furniture requests and said his office had bought used furniture for “one quarter of the price.”

He added, “We are looking for that kind of cooperation.”

Kos also noted the city auditor is working on a revolving account for the café area.

COA Executive Director Sandra Lapollo said the use of the center has increased, more seniors are coming for the meal program – use has increased from 120 to 315 people – and there are more men using the facility.

The use of the fitness and exercise rooms is “off the charts,” Lopollo said.

In speaking about the punch list, Moge said that of the $150,000 in technology items to be finished all but $8,500 of the list has been finalized.

Lapollo noted the public address system in the Garden Room has been installed, as well as cell phone boosters, and WiFi is working in the building now.

To open the café area, a point of sale system must be purchased, and Moge said there has been a second demonstration of a potential system. She said there are still questions about the cost of the system, how it would be upgraded and support.

Lapollo said the COA is still looking to fill a nurse position for the new center. There have yet to be applicants for the vacancy, which she described “would be a perfect job for mothers.”

She added COA officials would be meeting with Holyoke medical center in several weeks to seek candidates for the positions.