ROCKLAND, Maine — Residents packed City Hall on Wednesday night to urge city leaders to maintain the current level of library and recreation programs but councilors were adamant that reductions were needed to prevent a huge tax increase.
“I understand the troubling times we are in, especially relating to budgeting and funding only what is necessary,” said Tim Carroll, who is a youth coach and chief deputy of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
“However, not appropriately investing in our youth is not the answer. There are consequences to actions,” he said.
Carroll said the Recreation Department provides an opportunity for children, regardless of economic status, to participate in programs that teach discipline and teamwork.
The Wednesday night meeting attracted 140 residents, one of the largest turnouts since Rockland moved into the current City Hall nearly 20 years ago. The meeting was the latest in a series of budget review sessions by councilors.
Earlier this month, City Manager James Chaousis presented a budget plan that calls for reducing library staff to 25 hours per week, which would lead to reduced hours of operation. The proposal also calls for eliminating the staff at the recreation center. The city would retain $50,000 in an effort to attract a private operator to run the facility.
Mayor Frank Isganitis said it is inaccurate to say the recreation center would be closed.
The city manager said he already has been contacted by MidCoast Recreation Center in Rockport about the possibility of sharing services.
Councilor Larry Pritchett said he wants the city to talk with outside operators to see what they can offer and that the city needs to restructure services to meet existing revenues.
Councilor Valli Geiger said she has spoken with people in the community who feel that the city is not getting good value for what it spends on the Recreation Department.
The recreation budget, for the budget year that ends June 30, is now $371,000.
Councilors said they were committed to keeping the summer day camp program this year since many families already are counting on that service. Forty children have signed up for the nine-week program.
Library supporters also turned out in large numbers.
Resident Edward Miller said that cuts proposed for the library would turn it from a first-class facility to a second-class facility.
Resident Carol Bachofner said her library card is her most valuable possession.
Rebecca Albright said the city is using short-term thinking and making such drastic cuts to the library and recreation did not make sense.
Esther “Tess” Kilgour said the city has invested a small fortune in the recreation center and library buildings and questioned whether it made sense to cut back on those services. She urged residents to turn out for the May 21 school district meeting where cuts could be made.
The current library budget is $571,000.
Before the start of the meeting, Isganitis told residents who were holding signs supporting the library that they could not display them during the meeting and collected some of them.
Geiger said she was frustrated with the public comment.
“It’s not about not supporting the library. It’s not about being cultural barbarians. It’s about how many people will be driven out of their homes,” Geiger said.
Geiger urged the Rockland Public Library Endowment Association to help offset the reduction in tax support.
Councilors also discussed seeking proposals from outside law firms to see whether it would be less expensive to contract with a firm than retaining the in-house attorney.