WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Wider doors. A larger kitchen. Wheelchair-accessible bathrooms.

These were some of the suggestions made by Bugbee Senior Center staff, volunteers and patrons during a public forum last week to gather feedback for an architectural feasibility study commissioned by the Hartford Selectboard.

That study could then lead to plans for renovating the building, which is owned by the town. The center is run by the White River Council on Aging, a nonprofit organization that focuses on serving older adults in Hartford, Norwich and Thetford.

“It’s long overdue,” acting Hartford Town Manager and Finance Director Gail Ostrout said at the start of the forum, which drew more than two dozen participants.

The Bugbee Senior Center, located on North Main Street in White River Junction, opened in 1980 — a decade before the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, Douglas Sonsalla, principal of the by Studio Nexus Architects + Planners, the White River Junction-based that hosted the forum.

While there was a small addition built for a billiards room shortly after the center opened, the one-story facility has largely remained unchanged.

“The one big thing is we would love that entrance to be a lot more welcoming,” said Bugbee’s executive director Mark Bradley.

The entrance does not have automatic door buttons, which makes it more difficult for people who use mobility devices to enter the building.

The vestibule also is small, which causes a bottleneck when people arrive for in-person lunchtime.

Gaylord Newcity, who delivers Meals on Wheels for the center, said the doors also are too narrow, especially for carrying out coolers filled with prepackaged meals.

“You’ve got maybe a half inch on each side and I’m forever rubbing against them,” he said, noting that his knuckles have become raw from his encounters with the doorframe.

The kitchen also is not large enough to meet the increasing needs of Bugbee’s nutrition program, Bradley said, adding that it was designed to make 10,000 to 15,000 meals a year. The amount of meals has since doubled.

“Yeah, it’s crowded,” said Dottie White, who works part time in the kitchen. “It’s just not enough room for everybody.”

Storage, particularly for medical equipment, was also a concern. The Bugbee has a collection of durable medical equipment that it regularly loans out to residents and the majority of it is stored in the basement.

“A lot of our people are low mobility,” said Bugbee administrator Alec Struver, noting that there is not enough space on the first floor to store all the equipment.

The bathrooms are also not up to ADA standards and can be difficult for those who use wheelchairs to navigate.

Attendees also weighed in about what they like about Bugbee: Many spoke about the natural light in the dining area and the programs that the center offers.

The study should be finished this summer, right around the time budget season starts at the end of July, Ostrout said. She cautioned that renovations could be done in phases and that the timeline will be dependent on funding, including grants.

“It’s going to take some time to get it to where it needs to be,” she said. “We certainly don’t want all the burden to go on the taxpayers.”

Editor’s note: Those who wish to provide feedback about the Bugbee Senior Center building can email Ostrout at gostrout@hartford-vt.org. Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.