SYRACUSE -ÊSenior citizens wanting their own center were disappointed Tuesday when the Syracuse Town Council voted 2-1 in support of authorizing an application to the state for a planning grant for a senior citizen center. It takes three votes for a motion to pass.

Councilman Paul Stoelting abstained from voting because he said he recently resigned from the Samaritans on Standby board of directors and he felt it was a conflict of interest. Council President William Cutter was transported to the hospital during discussion of the center and was unable to vote.

Cutter suffered a coughing spell during the meeting and had to leave the room. EMS was summoned, Cutter was placed on oxygen and transported to Goshen General Hospital where he was admitted. He was listed in fair condition this morning. Details of his ailment were unavailable.

Town attorney Robert Reed told the crowd they may bring the issue back at a later council meeting.

During discussion Cutter said, "The issue at this point is whether the town should or should not sponsor the application to the state for a grant."

Josh Lantz, of Bonar & Associates, told the council he was contacted by Priscilla Rhode two years ago to help Rhode and others plan a new senior citizen center. Organizations the senior citizen center would encompass would include Turkey Creek Senior Citizens, Real Services Nutrition Services and Samaritans On Standby. Lantz said the group needs a legislative body, like the town council, to sponsor their application for a planning grant from the Indiana Department of Commerce.

The grant will cover 90 percent of a study to determine what the costs of a senior citizen center will be, Lantz said, and there will be no risk for the town. The remaining 10 percent, he said, will be paid for by the senior citizens' group.

Rhode said, "I certainly want to promote this. We've been working on this for 10 years. We are a nonprofit organization."

Rhode said in the last 10 years they have accumulated more than $30,000, including a $19,000 bequest.

Rhode said they don't have anything against youth, but "we move a little slower. We don't hear as well, you know that." She said kids are too fast for their older living. Her comments received a round of applause from the crowd of senior citizens present.

Currently, senior citizens hold their activities in the Scout Cabin. Anthony Kuhn said, "I'm with Priscilla. When we go (there) after the Scouts meeting, you ought to see it. They trash it. They mess up the chairs. I don't blame it all on the kids. There's adults, too."

Jerry Wright asked when the building is built, who was going to pay the monthly expenses and who will pay for the maintenance person. If the seniors depend on grant money to cover their expenses, Wright said, the money may not be there all the time. He also said the businesspeople of the town won't want to donate money all the time.

Several more senior citizens said they were in favor of a senior citizen center separate from the community center.

Rhode said money to pay for the center will come from program fees, grants, donations and an annual fund-raiser. She also said Samaritans on Standby are the primary sub-recipients.

Cutter said, "I appreciate your concerns and everything you've done ... but I don't see at this point how it would be humanly possible for your organization to afford such a project, even with grants."

Reed told the council, "Should the thing go, the title for that project has to be put in the name of the town. The town would have a certain amount of responsibility."

Councilman Barbara Carwile said Rhode was not asking for any tax dollars, just for the authorization to apply for a planning grant. "I support Priscilla wholeheartedly. I think she is trying to do something for the senior citizens of this town." She said many people say there is nothing for the youth in Syracuse to do, but there's nothing for senior citizens to do either. "I think we need a community center. I don't see why we can't support this application to help them find out if they can fund a senior citizen center."

Councilwoman Carol Koble voted against the request for the council to authorize the application for a planning grant. [[In-content Ad]]