Charlestown budget meeting spotlights rising seasonal staffing, beach operations and event costs

Parks and Recreation staff told the Charlestown Budget Commission and Town Council that rising seasonal wages, increased beach and facility costs, and rapidly growing attendance at special events are driving proposed changes in the department’s operating budget.

“I want first, I wanna thank the budget commission and the town council for every year giving us the support and the funding we need to do what we do in Charlestown,” said Vicky, a Parks and Recreation staff member, as she opened a presentation on the department’s 2024–25 spending plan and program highlights.

Staff described a year of strong demand for summer programs: a camp that filled with residents before nonresident registration opened, swim lessons that now run two sessions at Burlingame and regularly fill (15 students per session), and a slate of special events including concerts, a bonfire, flashlight Easter egg hunt, and the “Trolls in the Park” installation. That popularity, staff said, strained some services: composting restroom facilities were “overused,” forcing the town to bring in portable toilets, and concession and vendor arrangements for large events are being reconsidered.

The department said seasonal staffing and lifeguard pay are major budget drivers. Staff reported beach lifeguard salary lines rising from about $270,000 in a prior year to roughly $359,000 in the most recent budget — an increase staff described as about $89,000 — and noted those figures vary with weather and how many seasonal hires return. Vicky said the department has recruited returning lifeguards and already secured many summer hires, but added that higher minimum wages and competition for workers are putting persistent upward pressure on costs.

Staff also walked members through operating-cost increases: printing and newsletter costs, higher bus fees for trips (New York and Boston day trips are popular and often fill), professional development when the department attends national conferences, and one-time playground surfacing (ADA-compliant engineered wood chips) expenses. The tennis and pickleball programs are widely used, and the department plans incremental pay adjustments to retain long-term instructors who have remained at minimum wage historically.

Several items tied to specific facilities were discussed. The department confirmed a contracted beach-cleaning service for Charlestown Blue Shutters at $10,000, with twice-weekly service from Memorial Day through Labor Day and a modest buffer for extended seasonality. Staff said the town recently put the concession operations at Town Beach out to bid. A line-item reallocation removed a double-budgeted striping cost and shifted funds to overtime and supplies based on current spending.

Volunteers also factor into the budget: an ad hoc disc golf committee — led by Peter Tedeschi, identified in the meeting as the committee head — has been maintaining the course, installing new baskets and upgrading tee pads. The committee raises donations and holds a reserve that has funded some purchases; staff said a recurring $10,000 maintenance line is likely to be needed in the short term while larger projects finish.

On revenue and cost-recovery, staff proposed pursuing more sponsorships for concert-and-movie series and charging outside food trucks/vendors a fee to operate at large town events. Vicky and other staff noted they have not charged some vendors in the past and said this year’s events showed those vendors draw crowds and create demands for policing and cleanup. Town officials repeatedly flagged public-safety costs: increased police detail and overtime for large events are significant and rising.

The commission and council also discussed resident access and equity concerns. Beach parking frequently fills early in the day, and members stressed they do not want to price out residents. Staff said they are working on ways to preserve resident access while recalibrating fees and vendor charges for nonresident users.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes from the previous meeting — motion approved (mover and seconder not identified on the record; “All in favor? Aye.” Vote count not specified).

Next steps and scheduling

Staff said the municipal audit is being finalized and should be complete by mid-February. The budget calendar discussed in the meeting calls for a series of follow-up sessions to review remaining departmental budgets and outside agencies; staff agreed to circulate updated spreadsheets and the proposed meeting schedule to commissioners and council members.