Recreation and Parks requests 4.52% budget increase, cites personnel costs and restored maintainer role

Ryan, presenting the Recreation and Parks FY27 request, said the department is seeking a 4.52% increase and emphasized that the rise is “almost entirely tied to personnel costs,” including citywide cost-of-living adjustments, contractual wage obligations and state minimum-wage changes. He told the board the department relies heavily on seasonal and part-time staff for parks, programs and facilities and that last year a maintainer 2 was funded for only six months but this request restores that position to a full year.

Commissioners pressed for detail on personnel lines and overtime. Ryan said overtime jumped last year—about $31,000—largely because scheduling pressures (school turnarounds, weekend athletic schedules and unexpected maintenance) required extra hours to ready fields and school sites. He also pointed to equipment efficiencies, such as attachments for a universal Ventrak system, that reduce capital and maintenance costs. “This strategy reduces capital costs, lowers maintenance expenses, and streamlines our equipment inventory,” he said.

The board debated augmenting maintenance staffing on the spot: Selectman Greg moved to add $60,000 for another maintainer 2 but there was no second and the motion failed. Later in the meeting the board approved a separate $2,800 addition to maintenance-of-property line 52420 to support materials at Quaker Hill after members cited field and restroom repairs and ADA concerns. Ryan said the department will continue pursuing grants and sponsorships to offset program costs and noted a past $5,000 mobility grant used for bike helmets and safety efforts.