Framingham City Councilor Drafts Ordinance Around Callahan Center

FRAMINGHAM, MA — The fate of both the Callahan Center and the Health Department remains a topic of debate since the city's plans were made public last week. The city plans to move the Health Department out of Fuller Middle School and into the Callahan Center starting in mid-June. The move would allow the contractors handling the construction of the new Fuller Middle School project to use the offices the Health Department was using in Fuller. Critics to the plan say the move would further limit space in the Callahan Center and could negatively affect the seniors who the center serves.

City Councilor Mike Cannon, of District 4, has drafted an ordinance that would give the Council on Aging control over the Callahan center. In an email to the Council on Aging, he said "While I would be very disappointed if the Mayor forces us to solve this problem legislatively, I'll file my ordinance immediately following your Tuesday board meeting if we haven't received good news by then." The Council on Aging Board is holding its usual meeting this Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in the Callahan Center, but this meeting will mainly focus on the Callahan Center and the city's plan. The mayor is expected to be at the meeting.

Cannon added in his email that the council's control on the property would be equivalent to the Library of Trustees care and custody of the libraries and that other City Councilors have been working on their own solutions.

The Friends of Callahan Senior Center, a nonprofit dedicated to raising money for local seniors, has taken action of their own. The organization's president, Mark Goldman, said he has contacted the state Attorney General to seek an injunction. He is still awaiting a response while the AG's office investigates. Goldman says the Health Department would take a third of the building, including vital program space like the multi-purpose room. The Health Department has 16 full and part-time employees.

Kelly McFalls, spokeswoman for the city and mayor's office, said the Callahan center was chosen among other options because of the synergy between the seniors of the center and the services the Health Department offers to the senior community. McFalls says no cuts will be made to programs or staff under the planned move. Goldman refuted that point, saying if the multi-purpose room is used by the Health Department, one program will have to be cut along with the two staff members who run it.

The legality of the planned move is also in question. Goldman and several City Councilors have cited a $1 million donation that helped buy the Callahan Center, which specifically said the center was to be for senior use only.

Tuesday's Council on Aging Board meeting is expected to cover all sides of the issue and is open to the public.

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