Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Recreation Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents and board spar over Collins Center summer program as officials cite logistics and safety
Summary
Public speakers urged the Town Board to continue recreation programming at Collins Center. Board members and staff cited logistical, safety and contract constraints; the board debated pavilion modifications, busing costs and corrections-facility conditions but did not reach a final decision to restore the full Collins Center site program.
Residents and parents urged the Town Board of Collins in multiple meetings this spring to restore or continue the Collins Center summer recreation program, but the board raised logistical, safety and funding concerns and did not finalize a plan to maintain a full Collins Center site.
At meetings in March and June, parents and program participants described the Collins Center site as important and said children need a local all-day program. Supervisor David Tessmer and Recreation Director Sam D’Amaro described operational hurdles: the Collins Center School had been condemned and state corrections-provided facilities require specific conditions and approvals. Tessmer said state rules and site infrastructure mean a FEMA or portable solution is more complex than residents expect and could take years; D’Amaro advised on staffing and program operations.
In June, with Supervisor Tessmer absent for medical reasons, Deputy Supervisor Mary Clark and the board summarized previous options and read proposed conditions circulated from the Department of Corrections staff about site use. Board members and resident speakers discussed the cost and feasibility of bussing children to Collins versus hosting a smaller local program; Councilman Vogtli said prior busing cost estimates made that option expensive, while other parents noted Gowanda’s free program is partly subsidized by grants that offset bussing.
The board discussed modifications to the Collins Center pavilion (canvas walls, garage doors or other closures) and accepted donated funds would not by themselves resolve the logistical or regulatory conditions. The board voted in prior meetings to hire recreation staff for the town program overall, set fees for participants and authorized related expenditures, but did not adopt an immediate plan to restore a full Collins Center site program. Several residents said they would continue to press the town for a restored local program and expected updates at future meetings.
Next steps: The board left open further review of site options, grant opportunities and safety/contract conditions; residents were advised to continue communicating with the Recreation Director and Supervisor’s office.
