For over four months, the Senior Center of West Seattle (Senior Center) has had organizational difficulties, and on Nov. 11 both residents and other West Seattle neighbors met to discuss the direction of the Senior Center. Entitled “Should We Stay or Should We Go?” the town hall meeting discussed whether the center should stay affiliated with Senior Services (SS) and or go another route. About 80 people attended.

“No decision has been made so far,” the consultant who opened the meeting said.

Here is what you need to know:

--> In July, the executive director of the Senior Center was terminated by SS, a decision that violated regulations. Since then, challenges have manifested. There are not sufficient guidelines between SS and the Senior Center, which is resulting in an unsustainable business model when it comes to the IRS and funding.

--> The Senior Center is now under the auspices of SS. However, the Senior Center might break free of SS and become independent. There are benefits and cons to both. SS provides an umbrella of services for the Senior Center such as meals-on-wheels, and paying operations staff.

--> Details of future organizational models are unclear at this early time. But regardless of the decision made, the Senior Center building will always belong to the people of the Senior Center.

Here is a summary of the meeting:

The format started with three opening statements, Lyle Evans, the interim director, Dave Robertson, board president, and a statement from Paula Houston, CEO of SS.

After they each made these statements, the audience was free to ask questions. There was a two-minute limit for each question.

“There is only one topic we ask you not to not direct today, which is the former director of the Senior Center,” the facilitator said. That topic was off-limits due to the sensitive nature of the situation.

“We appreciate you’re here,” Evans said. “I just want to give you some insight, today’s mission is to answer questions and clarify misunderstandings. I’m here representing the staff,” he said.

Robertson said: “I’m really glad you all could come to this forum. On behalf of the board of directors, I welcome you to this town hall meeting. The board of directors has made the decision to be under the umbrella of SS and to continue to work in partnership with SS.”

“The Senior Center board of director supports Lyle as the interim director.”

Houston: “The one thing that makes the Senior Center so successful is this involvement and interest. You all are the face of SS. We believe you are very important, we are excited the board has voted to remain with us and put a process in place."

The organizational model that was situated 50 years ago is outdated, she said. This is a problem.

“We have put together a board task force that looks at options for a different relationship. We have not decided what this different relationship will look like,” she said. We are looking for an optimal model that will address everyone.

There are three issues the board is looking at: those who own buildings and want to retain their buildings, those who have reserves, and want to retain their reserves, and community members.

“SS is the largest nonprofit in Washington State that is the umbrella agency serving senior centers,” she said. “We also operate many programs like meals-on-wheels.” SS staffs the Senior Center.

“This whole issue is important to me,” one audience member said. “I was concerned that the Senior Center would remain with SS.” The panel answered her that the center is remaining with SS at this time, but it will be many months before they've come up with a permanent decision.

“None of us know about this agreement,” said one audience member. He questioned why there was not transparency with the termination of the former director.

“What are you going to do for me?” one person asked. “If we choose to stay with SS, what are you going to do for me?”

“That’s a question that’s probably on a lot of your minds,” a panelist said. “We know how important this center is to this community, and we want to enhance services, and make sure you are a viable center for as long as you want.”

The audience member followed up on his comment: “A lot of people have done tremendous good for this building,” he said to SS. “I don’t trust you.”

“I think we can be on our own, we can be independent, we have great people who can continue this, and I’m all for that.”

Benefits of staying with us, one panelist said: The salaries and benefits of staff comes out of SS. HR also comes from SS, and if the organization were to become independent, all the resources and funding would have to come from the community. SS does a lot of marketing and community engagement, as well.

Audience members said they worked very hard for the Senior Center, going decades back, and did not need to be part of SS.

“I believe in my heart of hearts — this center has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars — and I believe we can do that again in the future,” one participant said.

“I was involved in neighborhood planning raising money for our community centers,” a participant said. “A thing that’s concerning to me is this is top-down. However, that’s not how we are in West Seattle. We are bottom-up. We don’t have people make decisions for the rest of the community. We need the membership to make decisions on behalf of the community, that’s how it works, membership makes the decision and instructs the board what to do.”

However, “We do not want your building,” an SS panelist countered. “You put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into this building. Whatever model we come up with, we will not take your assets.”

The building costs close to $4 million.

One person asked for the reason to look for a new model. SS responded that donors question the model, it doesn't have clear guidelines and it would not pass an audit. Furthermore, SS is a nonprofit organization and has a governing board. It is not a governmental agency.

SS will allocate roughly $128,000 to the Senior Center in 2015.