At a brief April 20 Board of Selectmen meeting, First Selectman Pat Llodra and Selectman Will Rodgers reviewed and briefly discussed a proposed charge and a possible list of appointees to a new ad-hoc Community Center Commission. Selectman James Gaston was not present.

The planned early May seating of the panel will launch a new chapter in fact-finding and community surveying to eventually render a recommendation on how Newtown should utilize a $15 million gift grant from General Electric in the wake of the 12/14 tragedy.

According to a memo from the first selectman, possible members under consideration for the committee include: John Boccuzzi Sr, Brian Leidlein, Bill Buchler, Chris McDonnell, Rob Cox, Jeremy Richman, Sean Dunn, Sheila Torres, Brian Hartgraves, Kinga Walsh, Nicole Hockley, David Wheeler, and Carla Kron.

Mrs Llodra said she was also hoping to bring former community center advisor Andy Clure back to assist with the new panel. Mr Clure and Robert Geckle did many months of work researching and compiling community center data for the selectmen following the commitment from GE to provide the financial support for the project.

An initial proposed version of the project, the first of a planned three-phase capital initiative at Fairfield Hills, would have gone to a referendum vote April 28. But some late concerns about the scope and direction of the proposal caused Mrs Llodra to withdraw the April ballot measure in favor of appointing a new group of residents to further research the plan.

That first-draft version included a new senior center and an aquatic complex with at least two swimming pools, a snack bar, locker rooms and other recreational components.

The Phase I development was being designed to integrate into two additional phases. The second would either involve developing a connecting facility between the senior/pool complex and the NYA facility, or a standalone facility encompassing the parks and recreation administrative offices and some added recreational spaces.

A possible, optional third phase, according to Mrs Llodra, could include absorbing part or all of the NYA under town and Parks and Recreation Department control.

The suggested charges for the new Community Center Commission would eventually yield a proposal for construction and operation of facility that meets the following standards, according to the memo:

*Aligned with the conditions established by the donor (GE)

*Creates a location that does not exist today;

*Acts as an anchor for the people of Newtown to come together;

*Serves the needs of the entire community;

*Does not duplicate existing programs/services;

*Is based on $10 million to build; supported by a $1 million annual grant over five years.

*Consistent with the long-term development plans of the community of Newtown

*Consider the Capital Improvement Plan;

*Consider the Fairfield Hills Master Plan;

*Consider the Newtown Plan of Conservation and Development;

*Consider the Strategic Plan for Municipal Facilities (work in progress);

*Responsive to broad-based needs articulated by community.

Selectmen will ask the Community Center Commissioners to engage other boards and commissions, including the Community Center Advisory Committee, Commission on Aging, Parks and Recreation Commission, Cultural Arts Commission, the Strategic Plan for Municipal Facilities group, and more, the memo continues.

“Representatives from those bodies are committed to sharing their knowledge with the Community Center Commission so that project outcome is the best and highest use of the donor resources and so the facility meets the needs of our community in accordance with an over-arching vision statement it first develops,” the memo states.

“The Board of Selectmen is hoping for the Community Center Commission to engage this work with vigor and a commitment to task completion over a period of 6 months or so.

“The commission will be formally appointed, sworn by the town clerk, assigned a clerk to document meetings and post agenda, and will be required to follow all Freedom of Information rules,” the memo states.

Meeting space will be provided at the Newtown Municipal Center whenever possible, or at other municipal locations.

The memo says a work plan will be determined by the commissioners, and will be led by a chair selected by the members. The selectmen ask that the commission establish a schedule of twice-monthly meetings, and the selectman’s office will provide materials, documents, personnel, and other resources as appropriate and requested by the commission.

The commission will be also called upon to periodically update the selectmen, according to the memo.

Mrs Llodra said she plans to lead one or two initial meetings and then leave the panel to its own devices. The panel is scheduled to be seated and charged at the May 4 selectmen’s meeting.