Request for community resource center

PINE PLAINS — Town resident and pastor Renee Merryman approached town leaders for the second time in as many months at last Thursday’s Town Board meeting. She was there to request the town lend her space, free-of-charge, in the former library building so she could set up camp and try to provide assistance to those in need.

Her plan? To provide pamphlets, from hundreds of organizations — churches, social service organizations, libraries, food lockers, suicide hotlines, county government, Town Hall — you name it, any brochure that offers information residents could potentially be looking for.

“I’ve been taught to think locally and globally,� she said. “I’ve been helping out at the food pantry the last 10 months and the situation is not good. People are getting more and more desperate.

“We’re all human, and what I would like to do is start a community resource center,� she added. “What I’m asking the town is to let me use the space, to let people come in and get support. I just want to be the person who helps pull it all together.�

Merryman said there are services available that many people are not aware of, a situation she could remedy if given the space and the time to do so. She said she could also teach “life-coaching skills,� and bring Al-Anon to the town to operate out of the space in question, as the nearest such group is in Copake.

“Right now, while it’s sitting empty and an eyesore, I’d like to fix it up and volunteer my time,� she said.

Resident Jane Waters asked Merryman if she was aware there’s a social worker in town who provides services for those in need. She replied that she was aware of the fact, but the two women soon realized that position was about to be vacated and that Dutchess Community Action is trying to get a replacement, and quickly. Ideally the agency is looking for someone who speaks Spanish to meet with people once a week in the new library.

For his part, town Supervisor Gregg Pulver said he had some worries about the proposal.

“My concern is that New York state law governs towns and I don’t think we can just give that space away without it being market rate,â€� he said. “And, it’s so far-reaching I’m concerned about content. I’m also concerned about liability. No offense, but you’re a person, and I don’t know what training you bring to the table.… You’ve alluded to career counseling. Licensed people can do some of this stuff, but we have no control over content, and there are issues we may not want to  be involved in as a town. Religious issues.â€�

“I think it’s great you want to give back as much to the town, and it’s very kind of you,� Councilwoman Sandra David said. “But the pamphlets, maybe you can leave here at the Town Hall, and at other churches.�

Pulver asked if Merryman was precluded from using the community center. She said “no.� She also said she could use bulletin boards at Peck’s, Deuel’s, Stewart’s, other churches, etc., to which the supervisor then said the whole proposal sounded “redundant.�

“I would just like to have a spot where somebody could just come in and get something or drop something off,� Merryman said, adding that could encompass food or clothing, too.

“I don’t doubt that it’s a great idea, but we’re under some legal limitations,� Pulver said. “We’re in the liability loop as the town.�

“It really can’t be done through the town,� Attorney to the Town Warren Replansky said. “There’s the liability, separation of church and state, and we do have a responsibility to rent out space for market rate.�

“This is a town facility and we cannot give it to someone for free to operate out of,� Pulver added. “If we allow anyone to use it they’re going to pay rent for it. And there are other issues besides that. It’s just not appropriate. I don’t want us to be the bad guys, but under the law it just can’t happen. This isn’t a whimsical thing.�

“You have legitimate concerns,� Merryman said. “And I’m willing to discuss it with you.�

The board expressed once again there was nothing further to discuss and wished Merryman well as she pursues her ideas.

“Hopefully you’ll be able to find a way to do that,� Pulver said.

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