By Dale Bryant
Live Oak Adult Day Services has announced the agency is no longer in negotiations with Los Gatos-Saratoga Senior Citizens Inc. for the development of a new facility on the site of the senior group's clubhouse at 550 Hubbell Way in Los Gatos.
As much as anything, a couple of well-loved pool tables can be blamed for the breakdown of negotiations.
Live Oak, on advice from its attorney, offered to accommodate the senior group so that it could continue having its regular social activies, but said that the agency could only enter into a capital fundraising campaign if it took total ownership of the property. As a charitable organization, Live Oak can seek tax-deductible donations. The seniors' group, as well as the 28-member West Valley Federated Women's Club, which for the past 10 years has been a dues-paying member of the senior group, are both social organizations not entitled to tax-deductible status.
According to Joyce Meurer, president of the West Valley Federated Women's Club, "The Los Gatos-Saratoga Seniors rejected Live Oak's offer because they didn't want to give their property away." Meurer puts the value of the property at about $400,000. The pool tables served as something of a metaphor for the loss of control to the seniors, Meurer believes.
"There was nothing mentioned in any of the offers about the pool tables," she said. "In a way, the pool tables were the deciding factor."
The Hubbell Way property is owned by the Los Gatos-Saratoga Senior Citizens. The property was a gift to the club from Henry Loose in 1964, when the social group was some 160 members strong. Today there are about 35 members, and most are elderly. The Articles of Incorporation specify that, should the club disband, the property is to be distributed ". . . to a nonprofit fund, foundation or corporation which is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, and/or scientific purposes, and which has established its tax-exempt status under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code."
According to Meurer, the women's club got involved with the seniors a number of years ago through one of its own members whose mother belonged to the seniors. The women's club has used the Hubbell Way building for its own meetings for some time.
"About 10 years ago, we began diverting about $10 of each member's dues to the seniors, making all of our members also members of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Seniors as well."
Live Oak and Family Services Association, the agency that provides services to seniors at the Los Gatos Neighborhood Center, announced last September that the two agencies had been in discussions with the Los Gatos-Saratoga Seniors to build a comprehensive senior center and adult day-care facility on the property, but last February, Family Services pulled out, citing funding uncertainties due, in large part, to the uncertain status of the federal budget.
According to Leta Freidlander, executive director of Live Oak Adult Day Services, her agency's interest was prompted by the need for space to expand. Currently, the agency, which provides day care services for the frail elderly and houses administrative offices for all three of its sites out of the First Methodist Church on High School Court, is looking for administrative office space outside of Los Gatos.
Freidlander expressed disappointment and frustration with the breakdown of talks. "We urged the seniors to get advice from an attorney, but they never did."
Meurer says the women's club is returning to the original dream of the seniors to build a senior center.
She says the women's club currently is putting together a steering committee for the fundraising effort. To qualify donations for tax-deductible status, Meurer says, the club plans to do its fundraising under the umbrella of the Los Gatos Community Foundation. West Valley Women's Club member Adu Bagley is immediate past president of the foundation.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, June 12, 1996.
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