Updated with additional quotes.

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Lawyers retained by the Ajax Turner Senior Center announced during the City Council’s meeting Thursday that they plan to relocate from their current Clark Street facility, which has been the center’s home since 1983, rather than accept moving under city management.

The decision comes after the City of Clarksville terminated the senior center’s lease for the facility as they pursue a plan to move Ajax Turner Senior Citizens Center operations under the Parks & Recreation Department.

“Myself, along with Jon Crow, have recently been retained by the Ajax Turner Senior Center,” said attorney Kye Shannon. “I’ll keep my comments very brief this evening, I just wanted to come before the city and let everybody know that the senior center is fully aware that the city has chosen to obviously terminate their lease. The senior center plans abide and be out within the timeframe granted through that lease.

“We also want to make it clear and known that the senior center anticipates to hopefully keep a clear channel of communication with the mayor, council and all parties involved as the senior center seeks to find a new location and continue its mission that it’s been doing for several decades in the community,” Shannon said.

Senior Citizen Board Members address council

Senior Citizen Board member Dr. Gregory Fryer addressed the mayor and council. “Throughout my time in Clarksville, I’ve spent 25 years here now, I’ve seen firsthand the great impact the senior center has on our community, through my patients and through my various giving to the organization,” Fryer said. “Mayor Pitts, please renew the lease of the Clarksville property to the Ajax Turner Senior Center.

“I base my judgement on facts that I know, and I seek to learn more, and I seek your help in doing so. The facts are the city gave the center 90 days’ notice to terminate the lease, which ends on June 30. The center has no place right now to go.

“The mayor has made the decision to move the senior center under the Parks and Recreation Department and remove it from the nonprofit because, and I quote, ‘Among the concerns are the extreme turnover in the center leadership and staff, the health and safety of the staff and members, and the care of the city owned facility.'”

Fryer said on the surface, that seems to be right and a quick, easy fix. “Here’s the other side: Significant turnover has occurred in the director position due to circumstances out of our control. Such as death, health issues and resignation.”

‘Do you really want to disregard 60 years of good service to this community?’

He also pointed out that the City of Clarksville is responsible for seven seats on the Senior Citizen Board. Fryer said three seats have not been filled in the last nine months, and it’s been over two years since all the seats have been filled.

“So, do you really want to disregard 60 years of good service to this community, for a couple of bad years? Moving the center under Parks and Rec, that risks layoffs for current employees, increased costs and volunteers are replaced by paid positions using city funds, instead of Title VI funds,” he said. “Failure to renew the lease and fund the nonprofit for the next year will not only negatively impact the senior center, its members and staff, but also the community and family members.”

Recently added Senior Citizen Board member Lois Greider asked why the mayor didn’t bring his concerns forward to the board initially. “The center was set up as its own entity, as a nonprofit; and yes, you do fund a lot of our operations. We have 60 years of people who have worked, fundraised and wrote grants to build what we have today.

“Then to all of a sudden, without even a discussion, we get a notice to vacate. … Why would you do this? This is our 60th year, and this isn’t a celebration; it feels like a funeral. And I don’t understand because the reasons given happen everywhere. Yes, everybody can improve, but you have to give us a chance.”

Clarksville Now reached out to Pitts following the meeting. He said the city will not have nothing more to say at this time.

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