To the Editor:

I'd like to encourage Pat Llodra, the Board of Selectmen and all others who have focused their effort on this topic to gather new organizers and plan a series of forums over the next 9 -12 months.  There needs to be new residents brought into manage this conversation with a renewed broader focus on this most generous gift of the GE Foundation.

But first there needs to be a panel of five newly appointed residents/ business people that will facilitate a conversation with the residents.  Invited speakers should be planned and include experienced consultants and other community center directors from Connecticut. The town should now hire a consultant who knows the recreation and community industry here in Connecticut and to facilitate the conversation.

A pro forma should be prepared once there is an idea of what this facility or community center will function as and include.  It should be planned so it can become self-sustaining financially and maybe even slightly profitable in a reasonable time frame – year 3. 

If residents support a pool, consider one with exposure to the open air, not completely enclosed and not an Olympic size, they are costly to maintain and indeed far from a profit center.  But listen to professionals here.

We should also consider the pros and cons of owning the NYA.  This needs to be discussed carefully.

Maybe sidewalks should be a part of the conversation as well for community reasons they are worth talking about.

As a nearby success story, there is the Ridgefield Recreation Center. Its director Paul Roche who is a personal friend of mine and has built and successfully  built and managed this facility for the past 25 years is one to look to for guidance.  Mr Roche went onto build this recreation facility and department that is considered a model for other towns.  Paul is also the Chairman of the Legislative Committee for Parks & Recreation Committee here in Connecticut.

Under Mr Roche, today Ridgefield can boast a modern recreation center, 21 playing fields, several new parks, 28 full-time recreation employees, and 280 part-time employees The annual budget for the Recreation Center for 2015-16 is $2.5m with nearly a $2.7m revenue. It became financially self-sustaining in year 3.

Services included there are a wellness center, exercise classes, personal training programs, summer camps, drop in programs, yoga, spin classes, class rental spaces for private instruction, outdoor water park (spray bay), spa, steam room, whirlpool, swimming pool and much more.

The most important point for me to convey here is that we need to hear from the residents and ideas need to be presented so all can consider.

I encourage you to visit http://ridgefieldparksandrec.org/programs/ to see for yourself the facility and programs that are offered there. Ridgefield is just 30 minutes away and well worth a trip.

A mission for Newtown should be — to support and serve the community in every way possible.

Wayne Addessi

13 Lovells Lane, Newtown               April 3, 2015