Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Center Rates topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves New London community center rates, administration outlines scholarships and access plan
Summary
After a long presentation by city staff and public comment, the council approved membership rates and an operating plan for the new New London Community Recreation Center, including a scholarship program, resident discounts, free access for children under 3 and outreach plans. Breezeline donated $10,000 to a scholarship fund at the meeting.
The New London City Council approved membership rates and the first-year operating budget for the new municipal community recreation center on March 17, after a presentation by the city’s director of development and planning and more than an hour of council and public comment.
Director Felix Reyes and Recreation officials laid out a sliding-scale rate structure that distinguishes residents from nonresidents, incorporates HUD-based income tiers for financial aid, and includes special provisions for young children, veterans, students and seniors. Reyes said the city has set a policy goal that "no one will ever be denied access to a community center," and described a mix of scholarship funds, sponsorships and a $1,000,000 council-approved subsidy to support the first year of operations.
The administration outlined several access measures to reduce barriers for low-income families: a simple one-page scholarship application using HUD guidelines, case-by-case discretionary support for exceptional situations, guest passes, monthly "community days" when membership will not be required to enter, and free membership for children under 3. Director Reyes said the recreation department will handle scholarship applications and noted that the department already runs similar assistance for summer programs.
The meeting also included a corporate contribution announced from Breezeline Communications. Natasha Merchant, a Breezeline community engagement specialist, presented a $10,000 donation to launch the community center scholarship fund. "That $10,000 represents up to 85 scholarships for our kids," Merchant said.
Councilors and community members raised concerns about transparency and ease of access. Councilor Patrick Sheehan Gomer recommended clearer income bands so families can immediately see what they would pay without submitting paperwork; others urged the city to allow library-card verification or a brief walk-in process so young people can obtain free or low-cost access without burdensome forms. Director Reyes said membership enrollment will begin in April, the recreation department will have an on-site office inside the Innovation Center beginning in April, and the center’s operator will be introduced to the council at the April 7 meeting.
Council members also discussed other operational details included in the plan: monthly guest passes for members, discounted rates for college students and veterans, an annual-payment discount and modest day-pass and childcare fees for short visits. The council voted to approve the rates and the operating budget for the community center; the motion carried.
What happens next: Enrollment will open in April; the recreation department and the third-party operator (Power Wellness) will finalize scholarship procedures and outreach. The administration expects to open the facility to the public in mid-summer.
Speakers in the discussion included Director Felix Reyes, Natasha Merchant (Breezeline), Mayor Michael Paso, Councilor Patrick Sheehan Gomer, Councilor Pro Tem Peck, and several public commenters who asked that scholarship paperwork be simplified and suggested library-card or other low-friction identity proofs for youths.
Ending: Council members emphasized the facility’s long-term aim to be self-sustaining while retaining multiple access paths for lower-income residents. The council asked the administration to report back after the first year of operations with enrollment, scholarship utilization and recommended rate adjustments.
