Council on Aging backs $100,000 transportation funding request to Select Board

SUDBURY — September 12, 2022 — Sudbury Council on Aging pushes $100,000 transportation refill as Fairbank A/V shortfall looms. Council member Bob Lieberman told the Sept. 12 meeting that the Go Sudbury taxi and Uber program has spent $20,000 of its $100,000 town meeting grant in just two months serving nearly 200 enrolled riders, and the Transportation Committee will ask the Select Board on Sept. 13 for another $100,000 at the "high" funding tier. Members impose a 20-ride monthly cap per rider, and medical taxi trips into Boston average roughly $90. Director Deborah and Chair Jeff warned that the Fairbank Community Center's audio-visual budget carries a "significant shortfall" that downgrades senior-center rooms to portable carts instead of fixed screens. Longtime member Pat Lewis announced her resignation ahead of a November move to Colorado. Director Deborah reported 4,619 residents aged 60 and older — roughly a quarter of Sudbury's population.