Marion voters accept VFW building

Residents at Marion’s Fall Town Meeting voted to accept the Benjamin D. Cushing post’s donation of the VFW building.

Many people spoke up in support of accepting the VFW building while the agenda item was on the floor, particularly supporting its potential use as a senior center for the town.

VFW member BJ Barros told residents that the post was approached by the Council on Aging last year, but at the time there weren’t plans to disband and coexisting didn’t seem possible. However, now that the post has shut down, members want to give seniors their own space.

“We had a big meeting and it was voted that everyone wanted to give it to Marion as a senior, community and activities center,” he said. “That’s what we’re donating the building for.”

Some residents were concerned about costs that would be inherited by acquiring the building.

“How much would it cost to bring up to code?” Lee Vulgaris asked. “It just seems like a lot of money.”

Selectman Chair Jody Dickerson said the board had been working with the Facilities Department to come up with an estimated cost. Upgrades needed include a new fire alarm system, electrical work and handicap accessibility upgrades. The total for all upgrades is estimated to be about $93,000, Dickerson said.

The amount of buildings, space and maintenance work the town already has was another area of concern for some voters.

“How much property does the town have?” Chris Collings asked. “The VFW has a lot of positives, but now do we have too many buildings to heat, maintain and repair?”

Dickerson assured him that the Selectmen already have a plan to go over all of the town’s current buildings and reevaluate their usages.

Ultimately, voters agreed unanimously to accept the building, and gave the VFW post a standing ovation for its years of service to the town.