The Newtown Community Center Commission (NCCC) has a draft proposal to share based on feedback received from residents, who responded to a request by the commission late last year to share opinions on the project. Responses to a survey that was open from September through December 2015 will be shared during a series of forums where residents can share their views on that draft.

Commission members will be available during public forums on Thursday, February 4, at 7 pm, at C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street; Saturday, February 6, at 10 am, at Newtown Senior Center, 14 Riverside Road; and Tuesday, February 9, at 7 pm, and Saturday, February 13, at 10 am, at C.H. Booth Library.

Commissioners are hoping that feedback will help them finalize the proposal they will present to the town.

Residents can also email feedback/comments to the commission at

newtowncommunitycenter@gmail.com.

NCCC Co-Chair Andy Clure has stated the commission is "trying to get the town involved as much as they want. This is a large project; it's huge undertaking."

"We have a draft ready to show [residents] and get feedback and see what people think," he said recently.

Unlike regularly scheduled meetings where attendees are limited to brief public comment, which does not necessarily result in a dialogue, the forums "are a chance for question and answer, interaction," Mr Clure said.

Those who participate in any of the forums will hear what commissioners are going to be suggesting to the Board of Selectman (BOS), and "we will take feedback and assemble a final presentation to the BOS," Mr Clure said.

Once the selectmen approve the proposal, it moves to the Board of Finance, and then the Legislative Council. From the council it will return to the BOS, and selectmen will draft language for a referendum. Residents will then vote on the proposal.

Ideas to date include a standalone community center to incorporate multi-use space, an aquatic center, and ice arena. Based on research into comparable facilities, an aquatic center could generate more than $100,000 annually; an ice arena estimate at year three is a profit of about $80,000; and a standalone community center could potentially cost about $200,000 a year.

Figures are based on estimated staffing, building expenditures as expenses, and potential revenue through memberships, programs, and events. The scenarios come from months of researching other community/recreation facilities, gathering information from and polling the public, understanding town needs, round of forums held in 2015 to gauge residents' thoughts, and polling the public.

NCCC has met twice monthly since May 2015, when the current commission was seated, and subcommittees have also been at work to arrive at the draft proposal.

Newtown has received a $15 gift through the GE Foundation following 12/14. Per the commission's charge, they are to align with conditions established by GE including using $10 million of that gift to build a center, which is to supported by a $1 million annual grant over five years.

There are also town Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) funds available for a community center to supplement the project; $5 million has been earmarked for the current year.