Recently, the Windham Town Council was discussing, I thought, elderly housing in Windham and whether specifications for a particular zone should be modified to accept it.

But they got off track and into murky philosophical discussions. Even level-headed Dave Tobin couldn’t keep them focused. It was obvious some members of council were confused, especially in the distinction between affordable housing and elderly housing.

I didn’t hear the word subsidized used much, but in order to be affordable, most elderly housing is subsidized by the federal and/or state governments, another level of oversight. I am not referring to retirement communities which are out of reach financially for most of us.

Before the wheel gets reinvented, and before we set up another committee to investigate housing in Windham, I suggest the town council look on its collective shelf and dig out the report titled: A Comprehensive Assessment of Housing in Windham, Maine – Current Conditions and Future Needs. It’s less than five years old and was prepared at the town council’s request.

It even has what the (then) council asked for: recommendations! Those of us who were on that council-appointed committee were quite taken aback (but not really surprised) when we accomplished our goal only to have the report set aside. I still have my copy.

It is obvious from the recent council meeting that none (well, maybe one or two) of the councilors have looked at that report, a report that covers just about everything. This didn’t cost local tax dollars, folks, we were volunteers and received a grant from the state.

This was the third committee on which I served, that focused on housing. One was primarily about elderly housing, a real eye-opener. We have four elderly housing facilities in Windham. How many of the councilors have visited each of them?

These sites are for independent living, not assisted living and not nearly enough of them available for our growing senior population. I personally know many people who have tired of being on a waiting list and have moved to another town. And many more of our seniors who require assisted living are in facilities in Portland, Falmouth and other areas because Windham has no room.

And one final point, the cavalier attitude about walking to the stores from the elderly housing we already have, is ridiculous. An easy walk, perhaps, for someone who doesn’t use a walker and is 30. Think for a minute how far Marcus Woods (on Route 115, near Ledgewood Manor) is from the shopping center. Has anyone really walked from there to Hannaford’s or tried crossing the street to get to Shaw’s? In the winter?

Sorry if my enthusiasm wanes. I’ve listened to these discussions before, with every new council.

I expect the newness and complexity of the topic will wear off and some other more easily solved issue will present itself.

Come to think of it, build that housing close enough to the commercial center to walk to work, because that’s what most of us (over 65) have to do in order to afford to stay in Windham.

See you next week.