Recreation commission approves short-term $3,000 camp scholarship pool, asks staff to craft formal policy for August

The Brentwood Town Recreation Commission agreed to a short-term waiver of up to $3,000 in summer-camp fees for qualifying resident families and set June 1 as the administrative cut-off for awarding those funds. Commissioners said the waiver is intended for residents with demonstrated financial need and is first-come, first-served for this season; the commission directed staff to draft a formal policy over the summer and bring a proposed policy back for a vote in August.

Jason Gagnon, the recreation program coordinator, told the commission that camp registrations were running ahead of last year and that staffing had already been set. "Sure. So currently we have 35 total registrations. 30 of them are full summer, which is more than we had last year," Gagnon said, noting that the department is preparing staff training and camp logistics ahead of the June start date.

Commission discussion noted that the Recreation Department had anticipated school or external scholarships in prior years that had not materialized, and that counseling and staff ratios limit the department’s capacity to accept additional children beyond current staffing. Commissioners agreed the $3,000 would be a temporary measure for this year and that the Recreation Department would implement a formal, written scholarship policy to guide future requests.

The short-term waiver passed after a voice vote; one commissioner registered opposition during the roll-call portion of the meeting. Staff were directed to place a scholarship-policy proposal on the August meeting agenda so the commission can consider a standing process before the next registration season.

If families seek assistance this year, commission members said priority would be given to residents whose needs can be validated through school or social-service referrals and that any awards would be contingent on available staff-to-child ratios.