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Recreation director asks voters for full-time program coordinator; residents warn of tax strain
Summary
The Budget Committee forwarded a Select Board warrant asking voters to authorize a full-time Recreation Program Coordinator position, presented as a conversion of an existing part-time seasonal position into a year-round role.
The committee heard from Andy (Recreation Director) about a Select Board–sponsored warrant to create a full-time Recreation Program Coordinator position, converting an existing part-time seasonal role into a year-round position.
Andy said the position would make department operations more efficient and would focus on summer camp and youth programming while assisting other department functions. He summarized the cost: “It will allow the rec department to run more efficiently,” and confirmed the full-time salary-and-benefits cost would be about $62,000 annually; because the budget already includes roughly $14,000 for seasonal staffing, the incremental ask for the remainder of the current fiscal year was presented to voters as just over $26,000.
Public commenters expressed both support for the department’s expanded programming and concerns about rapidly rising property taxes. Ward Byrne, a resident, urged the committee to cut spending across warrants and warned that taxpayers are facing unsustainable bills. Another resident asked whether positions must be placed on the warrant to become permanent; Select Board members explained that the warrant language establishes a position that the board can then include in the operating budget going forward if voters approve it.
The Budget Committee asked about hours and work location; Andy said he works 40 hours a week and primarily from the office. He described numerous new programs introduced under his tenure and said the department currently relies on a small number of part-time and seasonal staff and an 8-hours-per-week work-study. Andy defended the request as a measured step that would allow the department to meet demand for youth and senior programming.
After public comment and deliberation the Budget Committee recorded a motion and second and advanced the recreation position warrant to the town warrant. The Select Board had recommended the article; the committee said voters at Town Meeting will make the final decision.
