Westbrook Senior Center Gets New Director

WESTBROOK - Many seniors who have visited the Westbrook Senior Center have become accustomed to seeing Dottie LaGrua, a volunteer director serving at the center for the past ten months.

Minutes from the March 26 meeting of the Westbrook Senior Center Building Committee state that "the committee is upset about the letter that was sent to
Dottie LaGrua asking her to leave the senior center as director with only a couple days notice."

Paula Ferrara, Executive Director of the Estuary Council of Seniors said she has received several complaints from seniors about the Westbrook Senior Center.

These complaints led Ferrara to meet with First Selectman John Raffa because "we got the impression that we weren't welcome."

The Estuary uses the center as a food site serving lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Ferrara said the Estuary used to have its food site at the Westbrook Public Library before being asked to relocate to the senior center.

When the Estuary was having its meals at the library, Ferrara said she received no complaints. Moving meal sites back to the library is not an option since the library is undergoing a renovation and expansion project expected to be completed in May 2008.

While Ferrara admitted the firehouse was considered as a possible location for a relocated food site, it was never definite. The committee at its March 26 meeting acknowledged that LaGrua worked hard in her position and unanimously voted to keep her on the committee as a consultant.

Committee member Joel Maynard questioned what the Board of Selectmen would like to see for the future of the senior center and have asked it be added to
the agenda for the April 19 meeting.

However, the Town Clerk's Office reported that meeting was cancelled due to lack of quorum.

Sharon Lassard, the director of Social Services and the Municipal Agent for the Elderly in the Town of Westbrook, confirmed that she replaced LaGrua as Director of the Senior Center.

A sign on the senior center's door states that Lassard works in the senior center on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons.