Painesville City Council recently gave the city administration its approval to pursue a closer relationship with the Fairport Harbor Senior Center. A resolution approved at council’s Dec. 16 meeting directs City Manager Doug Lewis to enter negotiations with the senior center to “to enhance the services that are currently provided to Painesville seniors and to increase awareness in the Painesville senior community about the services currently available.” Lewis said that council would review any agreement that is reached. Council also approved a separate resolution authorizing Lewis to apply for and accept funding from the Painesville Seniors organization. “This resolution was directed towards the Painesville Senior organization and, if they do happen to go out of business, and they have monies left over, that they seriously consider first off giving it to Painesville City and we’ll create a line item for those activities for seniors or a part of some type of facility,” said Council President Jim Fodor. “The second thing is, if that’s not what they’re looking for, then that they would donate that money to the Fairport Senior Center,” Fodor added. Du-Wayne Henke, identified as the Painesville Seniors president, responded to a request for comment in November by stating that “upon resolving several issues, the senior board will address funding requests.” Council approved both resolutions in 6-0 votes on Dec. 16, with Councilman Paul Hach excused from the meeting. Painesville Township’s trustees also recently approved a resolution of support for the Fairport Harbor Senior Center. The resolution, which was passed unanimously on Dec. 3, stated that the township would look to collaborate more with the center and advocate for the center as it seeks funding. The Painesville Area Senior Center was previously housed at the Dorothy Allen Building on Painesville Square, which was damaged in a 2010 fire. The organization later renamed itself Painesville Seniors, sold the building to the Lake County commissioners and moved to the Lake County Central YMCA in May 2016. Fodor stated that the organization had stopped offering services in recent years. He added that “quite a few” Painesville seniors go to Fairport Harbor’s center. A city manager’s report stated that Painesville City previously “spent thousands of dollars each year” to support the Painesville Area Senior Center.