Friends of the Hamden Senior Center pledge $17,100 for restroom renovations; town accepts donation

Members of the Friends of the Hamden Senior Center told the Select Board on Sept. 29 that they are prepared to donate $17,100 to the town to fund restroom renovations at the Hamden Senior Center at 104 Allen Street. Claudia (executive board member, Friends of the Hamden Senior Center) presented a legal opinion the group obtained from Fitzgerald Law (as reported to the board) concluding the nonprofit may donate funds for town infrastructure work and described the donation terms in a draft letter. The Friends said the $17,100 donation was approved by their board on Sept. 23, 2025, and requested the town administrator sign the letter so they could deliver the check. The nut graf: The donation bridges a gap between previously budgeted amounts, a state grant and contractor quotes; the town accepted the donation subject to the Friends' stated conditions and a requirement for accounting of expenditures. Town staff summarized the project funding history: an initial town budgeted amount for bathroom renovations was $15,000; two contractor quotes were about $80,000 and one was $47,000; the town secured a $15,000 state grant and the Friends committed to make up the shortfall. The Friends also reported an additional private $5,000 donation toward the project. The Friends' draft letter specified that the donated funds be used only for the restroom renovations at the Hamden Senior Center, that unspent funds must be returned to the Friends if the project is canceled, and that any requirement for additional funds would require a separate request and agreement. The board voted to authorize the town administrator to sign the donation letter on behalf of the town so the Friends could deliver the check. Ending: The Select Board approved acceptance of the conditional donation and tasked staff to coordinate project contracting, accounting/reporting and final disbursement of funds.