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Board reviews facility-use policy; members question $50 damage deposit and booking priority
Summary
Select-board members and residents debated an attorney-updated facility-use policy, focusing on a $50 damage deposit, priority/order-of-booking rules and calendar visibility; staff said fees are set by the town fee schedule and the policy can be adjusted with redlines if the board requests them.
The board reviewed an updated community-center/facility-use policy and the model remote-meeting language. Staff said the substance of the policy has not substantially changed from the model but that the attorney edits adjusted verbiage; the board can request a redlined version.
Several residents and board members questioned the proposed $50 damage deposit, calling it low given the cost of some equipment in the building. One board member cautioned that raising deposits could make the facility less accessible for nonprofit groups; a resident and other members urged balancing accessibility with risk management. Recreation director Jeff Lazzi explained practical problems when groups cancel or leave spaces messy and noted that cleanup beyond routine chair-stacking could be charged against fees.
Board members and residents also pressed for clearer priority-of-booking rules and for a public calendar to reduce last-minute bumping of reservations. Staff confirmed the priority list places town boards at the top and that even verified reservations can be bumped in select cases for higher-priority town business, but said more public-calendar transparency could be achieved through the town's upcoming website improvements.
The board concluded the matter is still in review and staff offered to produce clearer redline language and to confirm links to the town fee schedule.
