This afternoon the Mansfield Parks & Recreation Department (MP&R) held a public meeting to explain, re-explain, or rationalize their decision to discontinue the use of senior citizen insurance coverage to pay for Mansfield Community Center (MCC) memberships.
The meeting was held in their town hall which always reminds me of this scene from Terry Gilli
am's movie, Brazil. It's a strange little political wonderland squeezed into a former elementary school. I felt like I needed a hall pass on my way to the meeting.
I got there a few minutes late and informally counted 125ish likely medicated senior citizen attendees and a handful of others. The meeting had started at 1 p.m. and the first 40 minutes were a walkthrough of dubious bar charts, wishful thinking, and gas-lighting about *why*, why oh why, the MCC needed to do the dastardly deed.
The first audience person to speak was the previous meeting's insufferable town mayor. In Lewis Carroll fashion she was Late!, Late! for a very important date - elsewhere but, OH BOY, how gratifying to see so many people show up - hiya, hiya, hiya... gotta go.
Of the important points presented these stand out;
One audience member (Ashford) brought attention to the discounted membership fee given to individuals who were teen to 26 years old (40%) while seniors got none whatsoever.
Another member said she simply attended for a specific group class and being forced to pay a monthly fee on top of that was fiscally unacceptable. Another said she would go, shower, use the pool for 15 minutes, shower and leave - costly if a full membership was required.
Another great point was that existing members miss some of the older equipment that was just enough to satisfy their needs now replaced by newer but less user friendly replacements. A feedback loop in purchasing is desired.
The insurance company is in negotiations with the Town of Mansfield discussing rates - so, if only, if only.
As I made my way out of the building, the town was kind enough to offer PTSD lapel ribbons for those who attend town meetings like these and leave with a hurting head. It's not much but its the virtue that counts.
Of the important points presented these stand out;
One audience member (Ashford) brought attention to the discounted membership fee given to individuals who were teen to 26 years old (40%) while seniors got none whatsoever.
Another member said she simply attended for a specific group class and being forced to pay a monthly fee on top of that was fiscally unacceptable. Another said she would go, shower, use the pool for 15 minutes, shower and leave - costly if a full membership was required.
Another great point was that existing members miss some of the older equipment that was just enough to satisfy their needs now replaced by newer but less user friendly replacements. A feedback loop in purchasing is desired.
The insurance company is in negotiations with the Town of Mansfield discussing rates - so, if only, if only.
As I made my way out of the building, the town was kind enough to offer PTSD lapel ribbons for those who attend town meetings like these and leave with a hurting head. It's not much but its the virtue that counts.
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