ROCKLAND, Maine — The Penobscot Bay YMCA wants autonomy over programs offered, fees charged, and hours of operations if it is granted a contract to run the city’s recreation program.
One councilor, however, said she wants a better deal for the city.
The YMCA was the sole organization that submitted a letter of interest Friday to operate the city’s recreation program.
Councilor Valli Geiger questioned the proposal during the council’s Monday evening meeting.
The YMCA proposal calls for the organization to rent the Rockland Recreation Center building for $1 a year. The city would pay for utilities and other building related costs, with total expenses projected to be less than $50,000 for 2015-2016.
“They get a building for free and in return they will offer programming for Rockland youth at their regular fees,” Geiger said. “I would say that I would like to see a better deal. Since they would be using our property for free, we need to see no Rockland kid gets turned away.”
City Manager James Chaousis said he would try to negotiate terms in the best interests of the city. He suggested the council hold a closed-door session to give him direction on what it wants in negotiations with the YMCA. He pointed out that the city was moving quickly on this matter.
Mayor Frank Isganitis said the city will need to include money in the 2015-2016 budget for the city to run the department for a quarter of the year as the transition occurs from a municipally-run department to a privately-run department.
The council has indicated it would include $50,000 in the budget to help subsidize fees for youths so that young people are able to use the program even if it is run by an outside organization.
The city has turned to seeking an outside operator in an effort to save money. The council plans to vote formally at its June 8 meeting to authorize the city manager to negotiate with the YMCA for a long-term lease of its facilities, which include the center and athletic fields.
The city recreation budget for 2015-2016 originally was proposed at $371,000 in expenses and $47,000 in revenues. Director Rene Dorr offered a proposal last week that would cut $125,000 in expenses, including his own position, as a way to preserve a city-run program. Councilors, however, have indicated support for having the programs taken over by an outside organization.
The YMCA stated in its proposal that it plans to run the program through its existing staff but that if new positions were needed, existing Rockland recreation employees could apply. The city department has two full-time employees as well as three year-round part-time workers.
The YMCA has its main complex in neighboring Rockport and a satellite center on the waterfront in Rockland, where after-school programs are offered.
The Midcoast Recreation Center in Rockport originally expected to submit a proposal but opted not to respond with a submission.
The city recreation center was built as part of the Works Progress Administration in 1935. That complex replaced the YMCA for providing recreation services to Rockland, according to the local historical book “Shore Village Story.”