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Friday, February 19, 2010

Senior Center an unmilked cash cow?



New Senior Center an unmilked cash cow?


As both the Plainfield City Council and the administration of Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs grapple with the city's continuing fiscal crisis, the question rises whether there is an unmilked cash cow lying close to hand.

Today's Courier brings news that South Plainfield's borough council is considering an ordinance to set fees on rental of its senior center to groups of all kinds (see story here).

Plainfield's new Senior Center, with its commercial kitchen, handsome amenities and (at least for now) on-site parking, might make it an attractive venue for awards dinners, birthday parties and other gatherings.

South Plainfield's proposed ordinance contains rules and procedures for use of the building as well as the following fee schedule --

• Nonresident and political groups — $500 per event.

• Local residents — $400.

• Nonprofit and civic groups with at least 60 percent of their members living in the borough — $250.

Government boards and agencies, as well as gatherings featuring seniors themselves would not be charged.
As senior center director (and borough clerk) Joann Graf said, '[w]e have to look for new ways to generate revenue'.

I'll second that emotion.


-- Dan Damon [follow]

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2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Its a great way to generate revenue, and lots of it. They just have to make sure that it is not used for that purpose more than the seniors. It can also change any not for profit status they may have if they are not carefull.

Anonymous said...

Great idea. Now, who do you think will take the bull by the horns and make it happen?