Stepping into an entry flooded with natural light from high windows during his latest walk-through of the facility with The Newtown Bee, March 29, Newtown Community Center Director Matthew Ariniello said “a lot of progress” has taken place at the community/senior center facility.

The following Monday, April 1, Mr Ariniello appeared before the Board of Selectman, presenting ideas for fees and programming the board will consider for authorization in the coming weeks.

Aiming to open in July, Mr Ariniello proceeded through the spacious Community Center rooms and hallways that will soon be filled with events, art classes, a café, aquatics activities, and community gatherings.

“We’re at a point where this is coming together,” he said about planned programming.

Entering the main building past the entrance found walls in place and already painted in bold colors. Some areas have been tiled, such as shower stalls and locker rooms. With the finishing touches in place, Mr Ariniello said, “It looks so much larger,” than it had months earlier, with steel supports in place but no drywall to define spaces.

Turning a corner and passing duct work that has yet to be suspended, he noted the “health and wellness” area, where a lot of mechanical work was in progress. Ducts already in place hung exposed from high ceilings.

“The quality of work is impressive,” he said.

Looking across the large multipurpose wing, Mr Ariniello pointed out that the room is dividable, in order to accommodate different activities.

“The space compliments the Alexandria Room to keep larger events in town,” he said.

The Alexandria Room at Edmond Town Hall offers guests and renters an adjoining kitchen and small performance stage along with event or banquet capacity for up to 225.

Crossing a wide hallway, Mr Ariniello turned to see the progress in a “nice, bright conference room.” Many of the large windows in various rooms have a view of Newtown Municipal Center directly across the street, and standing close to the windows offers a view of NYA Sports & Fitness Center.

Outdoor patio construction is underway, as well, and is planned to be completed “with community partners,” and through fundraising efforts, he said.

Transitions-Staffed Café

Rounding a corner brought him to the facility’s own commercial kitchen. Mr Ariniello said a café area there will include a program employing qualified special needs students from the Transitions program at Newtown High School.

Community members can “come in for a cup of coffee while supporting students in our community,” Mr Ariniello said, envisioning how the café would run. The program “shows inclusiveness,” and allows residents to “embrace our own community.”

Students will learn vocational and life skills, he said.

Toward the back of the building is the aquatic center with both a lap-pool and recreational pool. Mr Ariniello pointed out the concrete basins and pool area, which are “coming along well.” The pools will be filled in early June, and paving for parking is scheduled for May.

He next passed through the administrative space, where his office will be located, along with rooms for recent hires: an aquatics director and program coordinator. The administrative space also serves as a check-in area for members.

Much of the administrative space and several activity and art rooms are already fitted with lighting, flooring, painted walls, and “lots of storage,” he said.

Visiting the senior center portion of the building, Mr Ariniello pointed out the conference rooms, office areas, kitchen, and a health room for vision screening, blood pressure screening, and other wellness activities planned.

The senior portion includes a recreational area, multipurpose room, separate entrance, and outdoor space.

Outdoor bathrooms, accessible to anyone visiting Fairfield Hills, are also in place, thanks to funds provided by Fairfield Hills Authority. The bathrooms offer just a restroom, not a shower, Mr Ariniello clarified.

Selectmen’s Report

Mr Ariniello was joined for his selectmen meeting visit by Community Center Committee members Kinga Walsh and Nancy Doniger. He walked the selectmen through a presentation that focused on programming and planning.

Among his immediate goals are gaining the selectmen’s approvals for initial membership and space rental fees, along with the initial operating budget. He also presented programming rationale and revenue projections related to the center’s sustainability.

That included discussion on how $5 million in operating funds donated by General Electric will be utilized.

Mr Ariniello said those who organized the GE gift saw the need to provide operational support along with a $10 million capital infusion to help construct the facility. At the same time, GE provided Newtown leaders the ability to determine what operational business model was best-suited for Newtown residents.

He told selectman that without creating supplemental revenue streams, the operating gift from GE could be used up within the five-year structured disbursement — which is intended to be distributed in five, one-year installments.

The new director’s hope is to keep membership, space usage, and programming costs as low as possible while meeting a revenue-neutral goal that would mitigate any immediate taxpayer impact. At the same time, some of the GE gift could be applied to scholarships and subsidies to ensure no resident is excluded from utilizing the center due to individual financial constraints.

Mr Ariniello and the Community Center Committee envision a membership package that includes pool access; special event access; childcare; discounted programming; and space rentals, including for birthday and other types of parties; free guest passes, and Cafe Bucks. Discounts are also under consideration for local veterans; town employees, including teachers; and others to be determined.

Proposed Rates

Proposed rates for residents could be obtained by the month, or annually, along with $8 one-day passes. Proposed annual resident rates would range from $216 for individual youths/teens, and seniors, to $492 for a family membership.

A structured annual rate of $408 is proposed for a single-parent family, while individual adults would pay $372 per year. Proposed annual access for out-of-town residents would cost $24-$36 more depending on the program.

Rates were created based on similar types of structures at area YMCAs, along with the Ridgefield, Shelton, Mansfield, and Glastonbury community centers, Mr Ariniello explained.

He reviewed a range of prospective fees for room rentals, structured hourly with modest up-charges for nonmembers, as well. A member could rent the art studio or one of several activity rooms for a proposed fee of $30 per hour on weekdays, or $35-$40 per hour on weekends, while a nonmember would pay $33-$40 weekdays and $40-$44 on weekends.

The proposed largest banquet/event space, combining three abutting activity rooms, would cost members $125 per hour weekdays and $140 per hour on weekends, while nonmembers would pay $150 weekdays and $165 on weekends.

Year one operational costs are estimated at $888,971, including $362,000 in full- and part-time salaries and $55,000 in non-recurring costs, Mr Ariniello reported. He also reminded selectmen of recent hires Aquatics Director Kristin Rebelo, who will share skills with the Parks & Rec department, and Program Coordinator Jennifer Cebry, whose duties and salary will be shared with the Senior Center.

Incorporating anticipated membership growth and including the $1 million annual GE gift, the committee projects a net revenue of $321,071 in year one, nearly tripling to $898,631 by year three. Mr Ariniello told The Newtown Bee following the selectmen’s meeting that his goal would involve rapidly reducing the pressure on remaining GE operating funds.

“We want to make utilizing the community center affordable and accessible,” he said, “while offsetting the operational gift from GE so we could see that $5 million applied over ten years or more, depending on how we do with resident and non-resident revenues, rentals, fundraising, and grants.”

To date, $50,000 in grants have been received, he said. He and committee members are also planning at least two community open house events before the fall.