Residents urge transparency; allege RAMP grant mismatch, criticize pickleball floor and pricing

A multi-page letter read to the council by resident Hilary Evans (Attachment #1) raised detailed complaints about the new community center: signers say the RAMP grant application described a multi-use recreation facility and that the town proceeded to install a pickleball-specific floor without submitting a written grant amendment. The residents say that change reduces long-term community access, that rental pricing favors nonresidents and that policies may amount to a de facto non-compete with local wedding and event businesses.

The letter lists specific questions the residents want answered: who approved the floor choice and why, the itemized operating-cost math behind the proposed rental rates, and whether the contractor was held responsible for any defective concrete that reportedly led to floor replacement. It calls for an audit or state review if RAMP determines the town materially changed grant scope. Building manager notes circulated in the work session indicate staining attempts on the original concrete failed and the committee elected an outdoor-style pickleball surface; Rex Harris said in committee notes "We chose pickleball for the greatest revenue" and "This has to make business sense," statements the letter's authors say reflect the alleged prioritization of revenue over multi-use access (Attachment #6).

Council members did not order an independent audit during the Feb. 20 meeting but voted to adopt a fee schedule and to continue the work-session discussion of rules, resident discounts and documentation. Residents at the meeting asked for clear, itemized operating and utility numbers; the council directed staff to produce additional cost breakdowns in follow-up sessions.