ROCKLAND, Maine — A proposed lease agreement for the Penobscot Bay YMCA to run the city’s recreation program will have its first public review by the City Council on Aug. 3.
The proposed lease would be for three years starting Oct. 1 with an option for renewal for another two years.
The city would provide a $130,000 subsidy for recreation programs beginning July 1, 2016, and would be responsible for utilities and maintenance of the community building.
The east wing on the first floor of the community center building used by Rockland District Nursing Association would not be included in the lease of the building. The city’s recreation program uses the community building.
The city also would be able to use the community building for community events such as voting on Election Day.
The lease proposal makes several references to an operating agreement, which City Manager James Chaousis said Saturday is still being worked on. But he expected it would be ready to present to the councilors for a vote in September. The operating agreement, for example, would include what the annual subsidies will be after the 2016-2017 budget year.
The councilors will review the lease proposal at their Monday night meeting that begins at 5:30 p.m. A preliminary vote could be taken Aug. 10 and a formal public hearing and final vote would come Sept. 14.
At a meeting July 15, YMCA officials said they would retain the youth sports programs such as basketball and soccer which are offered by the Rockland recreation department. The costs would increase.
The weekly cost for the summer day-camp program is proposed to increase from $100 to $125, YMCA officials said at the July meeting. Registration for basketball and soccer would increase from $20 to $25 for each sport. Children in sports programs and those attending summer camp will not need to become members of the YMCA.
YMCA Chief Executive Officer Troy Curtis repeatedly pointed out that no one will be turned away because of an inability to pay and that the YMCA offers financial assistance. The application process is simple, he said, and the membership fee varies based on that income.
Curtis said youths who want to come to the recreation center to hang out will need to get a membership. There will be no cost for memberships for youths in eighth grade or younger. Membership costs for older students will be $17 per month. Again, he said, there will be financial assistance for those young people who can’t afford that amount.
Adults will need to have a membership to use the recreation center and cost will vary based on household income.
Membership to the YMCA allows those people to use its facilities, which are in Rockport and on the Rockland waterfront.
People also can pay a daily fee for using the recreation center.
One significant change that was outlined last month was the hours of operation of recreation programs at the community building. The proposal calls for the YMCA to be open from noon to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays during the school year. The recreation center will be closed during the summer when the facility has been least used.