Senior center requests more staff and eyes a larger shuttle budget as membership grows

Myra Levasseur, director of the Waterbury Senior Center, told the Board that the center recorded 5,090 active members in the past year and that daily attendance can reach about 200 people. Levasseur asked the board to fund one additional part‑time/temporary staff position included in the mayor’s proposed budget and described a partnership with UConn to create an internship pipeline to augment staff at little or no direct cost to taxpayers.

“I would love to...to have an additional staff member,” Levasseur said, describing strain when staff are absent and noting the center currently operates in rented space that limits expansion. She told aldermen the center lacks a full kitchen (it is a heat‑and‑serve facility) and relies on volunteers (about 14 core volunteers giving roughly 1,300 hours annually) to run large events.

Council members focused on transport and hours. The proposed budget includes $420,000 for grants to elderly programs and the senior shuttle; city staff said roughly $420,000 is proposed for the senior shuttle program in FY27 (up from $300,000 the prior year) and that the office could consider buying a vehicle and running its own program but that the contract model and ride volume would need analysis. Board members asked the administration for senior‑shuttle ridership and per‑ride data to inform any decision on owning a bus versus contracting rides.

Levasseur said added staffing and a larger volunteer/intern program would help extend coverage and reduce single‑staff risk on busy days. The board requested follow‑up data from the CDBG/community development office on shuttle ride volumes and monthly billing.