Plans for a new senior center were approved at Monday’s Town Meeting.

In February, at a special Town Meeting, the town had asked the Senior Center Building Committee to have more specifics on a proposed new senior center, to be located at Sachem Rock Farm.  So the Council on Aging came to annual Town Meeting Monday to ask for money to get the process going.

John Clifford said the senior center would add to the value of the community.

James Weidenfeller made a motion to have the amount in the article amended to $50,000 –– down from the original amount $275,000.

“What Town Meeting is looking for is they want a hard number,” said Clifford. “I strongly suggest you appropriate $275,000 because $50,000 won’t get you quality information. We have to approach these kinds of projects as a community and the senior center really make us a community.”

“For that amount, $50,000 won’t get the quality of information that is needed,” said Finance Committee member Jeff Luttazi.

“It would not be nearly enough to design a complete package,” said Building Committee member Domenic Deangelo.

Resident Roy Gardner pointed out that four or five months ago the Town Meeting voters made it clear they wanted more detailed plans.

“The Building Committee is doing exactly what we asked them to do,” he said.

The amendment failed and the voters considered the original article, asking for up to $275,000 for a comprehensive design study.

Ken MacLeod said that he wants the town to hold off on the project and look into other possible sites. COA Director Jane Haines explained that other locations were researched over the past several years.

The town owns the land and the COA was told they may use five acres, explained Haines.

 “This is how things are done,” said Haines. “We’re doing what we must do by Massachusetts state law.”

The article passed by a majority vote.

Haines was pleased with the outcome of the meeting.

 “The COA and the Senior Center Building Committee are very glad the community recognized the need,” she said after the meeting.

“Well over a year ago the Senior Center Building Committee voted to pursue the senior center at Sachem Rock Farm,” said Haines. “We felt that was the appropriate way to go … It’s a first step, but a big first step.”

Other Town Meeting highlights:

• Article 3, an item to to put $30,000 in the stabilization account failed.

• Article 4 to put $739,000 in the Capital Stabilization Fund passed. This allowed articles 9-15, which took money out of the fund to pay for various capital projects around town, to then pass. There articles included drainage improvements and related infrastructure improvements on Hobart Street, replacement of a drainage culvert on Belmont Street, a new fire truck, safety equipment that will enhance the safety of students at Central, Middle and High Schools as well as the Town Hall and the replacement of firearms for the police department.