A committee charged with investigating expanding the Amherst Senior Center has ideas that include building an addition, constructing a new center elsewhere, or taking back rented space upstairs.

Council on Aging member Jack Wollensak, who is on a long-range planning subcommittee, said the subcommittee is trying to narrow down the choices for increasing the Senior Center's 7,399 square feet it uses in the Bangs Community Center at Boltwood Walk.

The first two options, Wollensak said, include taking a municipal parcel immediately south of the building, next to Johnny's Tavern, and building an addition that would be attached to the building. A second expansion possibility would be to build over the ground level of the Leisure Services and Supplemental Education offices on the east side of the building.

Senior Center Director Nancy Pagano said if expansion is done on site, it might be logical to couple the project with enlarging the parking garage.

Though building a larger structure was controversial when the garage was built a decade ago, it was designed to be expandable and might win support if a portion of the structure were hidden behind a larger Bangs Center, Pagano said.

While it's uncertain what other sites might be considered for a new Senior Center, Wollensak said they would likely be close to the downtown.

The last, and least expensive option, would be trying to access the upper floor of the building, which is currently rented to private groups.

How the project would proceed, and how it would be funded are all in the discussion stage, according to Town Manager John Musante. He said he would like to see the subcommittee continue its work, identifying programmatic needs for the Senior Center, and then develop a plan.

Wollensak said LSSE is also interested in a new facility, but since it has different needs it would be challenging to combine the projects.

The LSSE wants a building with a teen center, a gymnasium and a pool, while a Senior Center needs medical offices, a kitchen and a lounge, Wollensak said.

Food for Fines

The Amherst Survival Center recently benefited from the generosity of Jones Library patrons during its annual Food for Fines project.

The library collected $579.75 in fines and 35 bags of food items during this drive.

Monday: Policy Subcommittee of the Regional School Committee. 9 a.m., superintendent's office, middle school; Buildings and Facilities Committee of the Jones Library, 1:30 p.m., trustees room.

Tuesday: Shade Tree Committee, 4 p.m., First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall.

Wednesday: Board of Registrars, 5:30 p.m., town clerk's office, Town Hall; LSSE Commission, 7:30 p.m., community room, police station.

Thursday: Joint Capital Planning Committee, 9:30 a.m., Town Room, Town Hall; Finance Committee, 7 p.m., First Floor Meeting Room, Town Hall; Human Rights Commission, 7 p.m., Room 101, Bangs Community Center.