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Medford Senior Center may get city's help Bingo player Reta Hasha, left, of White City, buys game cards from Nina Duncan, at the Medford Senior Center. Activities such as bingo and other programs would get a boost under a proposal from the city to hire a full-time program diector for the center. [Mail Tribune / file photo] Thursday Mar 9, 2017 at 5:37 PM Mar 9, 2017 at 5:37 PM Damian Mann Mail Tribune @reporterdm A proposal for Medford's Parks and Recreation Department to take over management of the struggling Medford Senior Center received an endorsement from city councilors Thursday, particularly after they found the city wouldn't be on the hook financially. "It wouldn't cost the city anything?" Councilor Kim Wallen said. According to Rich Rosenthal, interim Parks and Recreation director, the senior center would pay the city a $130,000 annual management fee that would be taken out of the center's $250,000-a-year budget. The city would use the money to hire a full-time program director to boost activities and interest in the center at 510 E. Main St. The city would also use its experience to get more grants for the senior center that could pay for such things as improved access to the facility for the disabled. Rosenthal said the only risk in the proposal is that the senior center might not bring in enough money to pay for the city contract. But, Rosenthal said, he could see lots of opportunities to increase activities, such as bingo, and to increase membership, both of which would bring in more money. "I think this is a huge opportunity to improve service," Rosenthal said. "The services provided by the senior center have not been very well promoted." The center currently has 680 members in a city with 22,731 residents who are 55 and older. Annual membership is $30, or $50 for a couple. Created in 1958, the center moved to its current location in 1973. In 1993, the city conveyed the building to the Rogue Valley Council on Aging, but if the building is no longer used as a senior center for 90 days, it would revert to city ownership. In 1996, the center launched a lunch program. Under a proposed contract, the city would manage the senior center website and social-media presence. Wallen said she had been skeptical about efforts to help the senior center. "I'm not skeptical anymore," she said after hearing the presentation. Lori Williams, senior center board financial officer, said, "The center has been struggling for several years." Last year, the center lost its executive director and food kitchen staff. It's currently an all-volunteer organization, with many board members stepping in to help run operations. Williams said she thinks her revenue estimate of $245,906 for fiscal year 2016 is solid. The largest share of revenues is from donations, amounting to $69,576, with food bringing in $58,057. However the organization has expenses of $253,788. She said she was confident the organization could provide the city with $130,000 next year to pay for management costs. "We're going to cover our expenses and have a payment for the city," she said. Councilor Kevin Stine said the proposal would be beneficial both to the city and the senior center. "It's a great boon potentially for the city of Medford, because we will have the ability to promote the senior center," Stine said. — Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected]. Follow him on www.twitter.com/reporterdm.