RCL Notes of the Recreations Space Needs September 19th

(6:15 elapsed)  Committee is in general agreement that storage situation is untenable, with mold and mice.

Report to Board of Selectmen will mention a 10,000 sq. ft. facility in a future year.
Discussion about expanding to two stories and 15,000 sq. ft.
Discussion about using the Outer Marker site for Rec. storage.  The problem is that it is currently unheated.

(40:55 elapsed).  Immediate need is for a small, garage type, building for storage.  That would not add to traffic or increase attendance in the area.
Mention of a Community Center would be “like a flare going up.”

(46:39 elapsed).  Discussion focused on showing that 10,000 sq. ft. is not that much of an increase on existing space:
Current Rec. House and modular                2000 sq. ft.
Shacks, including Snack Bar                        1000 sq. ft.
Support spaces (incl. 4 rest rooms)                4000 sq. ft.
New Room for progra                                        3000 sq. ft.

Total                                                                10,000 sq. ft.

Kitchen of 600 sq. ft. was also mentioned.

(90:43 elapsed)
Discussion about funding a heated garage in the 2017 budget without resorting to a warrant article

(106:16 elapsed) (public input)
Chairman Mikolaities acknowledged that the $2.5 million Community Center will not proceed in 2017, despite the project sheet so indicating in the current draft CIP Plan.
Peter Crawford noted the difficulty of passing large facilities expansions in the Seacoast area the past few years.  He suggested that, rather than increase the proposed facility to 15,000 sq. ft., it should be reduced from 10,000 sq. ft. to increase the chance of it passing.  Chairman Mikolaities agrees with the $200 per sq. ft. estimate and $2 million cost for 10,000 sq. ft. stated by Mr. Crawford.
Mr. Crawford suggests a Facilities Master Plan encompassing all buildings in the Town, including the School, which is facing declining enrollment and may not need two schools in a few years.  The taxpayers own all of the assets and the “silo” approach is inappropriate, he argued.
Joe Cummins states that he would not support a single dollar for one square foot of space until the School District addresses its “horrible attitude” on facilities use.  He refers to an attempt to charge $400 per night for kids wanting to play basketball.  The schools cry out to be used more, he said.  He said that it was emblematic that the agreement for the after-school program between the Town and the School District needed to to be negotiated by lawyers.