The Erie County Department of Environment & Planning, using federal Community Development Block Grant CARES Act funding, aided 15 municipal senior centers across Erie County with various safety and heating and cooling unit HVAC improvements to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The local centers, all located within the Erie County CDBG Consortium area, included Concord, Boston, Colden, Collins and North Collins. Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz and Congressman Brian Higgins joined NYS Assemblyman Bill Conrad and City of Tonawanda Mayor John White at the city of Tonawanda senior center to review the improvements there.
“Investments such as these are helping senior centers all across Erie County upgrade and improve their facilities, which has a direct positive impact on the lives of seniors. These are spaces where seniors socialize, dine, and enjoy recreation so upgrading these facilities adds greatly to their quality of life,” Poloncarz said. “CDBG funding has spurred numerous community improvements across Erie County and this is another good example of how it improves our residents’ lives and I thank Congressman Higgins for his work in securing these funds.”
“Western New York’s building infrastructure is older, and upgrades are costly. With these federal resources Erie County can make lasting improvements in neighborhoods across the region,” Higgins said. “Thanks to funding from the CARES Act, we are investing in a cleaner and healthier environment for seniors in the City of Tonawanda and across Erie County, giving them peace of mind so that they can safely and comfortably gather and enjoy activities in our community.”
A total of $675,000 was invested in various improvements at the centers, ranging from the installation of touchless faucets and lavatories, purchase of stand-alone air purifier units and replacement and/or upgrading of HVAC systems to better filter air. After issuing an RFP, Erie County hired CJ Brown Energy Company to survey and inspect each center relative to current recommendations for improving indoor air quality and social distancing. CJ Brown issued recommendations for each center and supervised the improvements, which will help to not only provide a safer environment for seniors but also modernize these facilities. Work at the various senior centers will wrap up in the fall of 2022.
Local senior centers receiving upgrades and improvements include:
– Town of Boston: stand-alone air purifier units; plexiglass shields; installation of touchless fixtures in restrooms; HVAC system replacement with MERV-13 filters.
– Town of Colden: stand-alone air purifier units; installation of touchless fixtures in restrooms; furnace replacement with MERV-13 filters.
– Town of Collins: stand-alone air purifier units.
– Town of Concord: stand-alone air purifier units; UV-C sanitizer lights on HVAC system; PPE; meeting room/kitchen dividers to increase social distancing.
– Town of North Collins: stand-alone air purifier units; installation of touchless fixtures in restrooms; upgrade thermostats.
For more information on the Department of Environment and Planning, visit www3.erie.gov/environment/.
