ROCKLAND, Maine — The city and Penobscot Bay YMCA will hold a forum at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall to gather comments from the public on the pending agreement for the YMCA to operate the community’s recreation program.
“We will consider this information while designing the operating agreement,” the city manager stated in a news release issued last week.
City councilors gave unanimous preliminary approval on Aug. 11 to a lease with the YMCA to offer recreation programs out of the community building. A formal public hearing and final vote is scheduled for Sept. 14.
The proposed lease would begin on Oct. 1 and last for three years. The city would provide a subsidy of $84,000 for the first year that would run through June 30. In the second year, beginning July 1, 2016, the city would provide a $130,000 subsidy to the YMCA. A subsidy amount has not yet been determined for the following year.
The city would be responsible for utilities and maintenance at the community building.
At a meeting on July 15, YMCA officials said they would retain youth sports programs such as basketball and soccer as well as the summer day camp, which are offered by the Rockland recreation department.
YMCA Chief Executive Officer Troy Curtis repeatedly pointed out that no one would be turned away because of an inability to pay and that the YMCA offers financial assistance.
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 but that again can be reduced based on income.
Adults will need to have a membership to use the recreation center, and cost will vary based on income.
The YMCA allows members to use its facilities, which are in Rockport and on the Rockland waterfront. People also will be able to pay a daily fee for using the recreation center.