Montclair Council Votes On Long-Awaited Senior Center: WATCH

MONTCLAIR, NJ — It was the “most predictable vote of the night,” as Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller put it: the greenlighting of a lease agreement for a senior center.

During their meeting on Wednesday, the Montclair Town Council unanimously voted to approve an ordinance that will give local seniors a place to call their own – something they’ve been demanding for years.

The ordinance approved on first reading at the April 10 meeting authorizes the township to ink a lease agreement with nonprofit The Placek Family Foundation Inc. for a “senior community center and office space” at 60 South Fullerton Avenue.

Under the lease agreement, the space will also be used as the general offices of the Department of Senior Services/Lifelong Montclair. It comes to about $13,000 per month, Montclair Local reported.

Last December, representatives of local senior advocacy group Aging in Montclair (AIM) spoke about the need for a dedicated senior center during a town council meeting. “Our members are frustrated,” a resident said. “We’ve been waiting so long for this.”

• See Related: 'Build A Senior Center,' Frustrated Montclair Residents Tell Council

Several council members – and local seniors – spoke about the need for the center before voting on the ordinance (watch meeting footage below, cued to the discussion).

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