Billerica COA Subcommittee Launches Petition Drive for New Senior Center

BILLERICA — June 23, 2026 — Billerica COA subcommittee forms task force and plans petition drive to push for a new senior center. Meeting organizer told roughly two dozen participants at the June 23 session that thousands of signatures will be needed to make a credible case to the Select Board and Town Manager, warning that "if we go down this road and we come up with 100 signatures, it's going to be counterproductive." Participant Mike Rosa recommended listing all 40 to 50 COA programs on the back of each petition page and proposed Market Basket and O'Connor's as collection sites. COA Director Molly confirmed current active membership at 1,831 — roughly 10 percent of the town's estimated 11,000 seniors, a population participants noted is more than twice the size of the school-age population of fewer than 4,500. The subcommittee goes on hiatus for July and August, with the task force targeting a legally reviewed petition draft within one month and active signature collection by August; Cider Mill parcels left out of a May town meeting conservation warrant were identified as the most viable remaining municipal site.