Nearly 40 residents squeezed into the C.H. Booth Library's downstairs meeting room Tuesday, February 9, ready to raise their questions and concerns about a new community center.Residents Weigh InSeniors' PerspectiveCo-Chair's Thoughtshere

The members of Newtown Community Center Commission (NCCC) have been seeking feedback to a proposed facility. Part of the commission's current vision is to create a multi-generational hub for all residents, which also has a reasonable model of sustainability. Three versions of plans include the commission's preferred choice: a center with an ice arena and pool, a core community center, or a center with a pool.

Tuesday's was the third of four planned public forums for residents to share comments and concerns. The final open forum is scheduled for Saturday, February 13, at 10 am, again at the library. An NCCC meeting will follow, at which time commissioners are expected to make their final decision for a recommendation to the Board of Selectmen.

Newtown received a $15 million 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 to build a center, supported by a $1 million annual grant over the next five years for operations.

The commission's preference is something that "we think would have the best way financially to be self sustaining," said NCCC Co-Chair Brian Hartgraves. A community center with both a 50-meter and a zero entry pool, and an ice rink, would cost an estimated $25 million, offering what Mr Hartgraves believes is potential for "positive cash flow" through fees and space rentals. The scenario "fits our charge and vision," he said.

One drawback is the "spending gap," he said, pointing out that NCCC does not have the funds to build their preference given GE funds and potential Capitol Improvement Plan (CIP) funds. Money would "have to come through private fundraising," he said.

All scenarios and costs are available for view at Newtown-ct.gov.

A community center with a pool is roughly $15 million, and "about what we have to spend," he said.

Another option - a stand-alone community center - would cost an estimated $9.2 million, but would not include a pool or ice feature. That option is "affordable," Mr Hartgraves said, "but we worry about how sustainable" it will be in the long term without features.

Some residents have criticized the plan to use far more money than The GE Foundation provides, and reaching for town CIP funds. Roughly $7.5 million is earmarked for a community center over the next two years in the current CIP.

A stand-alone center could end up costing the town money to operate after gift funds for operations run out, while the pool and ice rink features turn a profit after several years, according to the commission's research.

NCCC Finance Subcommittee members Sean Dunn and Brian Leidlein who used a conservative approach when determining the revenue growth for both the aquatic center and the ice rink.

According to the analysis of Mr Dunn and Mr Leidlein, in year three, if only 11 percent of the 7,900 households in Newtown signed up for a membership, in addition to other programming assumed, both the aquatic and ice rink would break even.

This assumption does not imply only 11 percent of the 7,900 households will use either the aquatic center or ice rink, according to the subcommittee. If more than 11 percent of the 7,900 households signed up for memberships in either the aquatic center or ice rink then revenue would increase resulting in additional income. Therefore only 11 percent was needed in year three, to make both the aquatic center and ice rink self-sustaining.

During the February 9 forum, regarding the commission's preference, resident Jan Brookes asked about its sustainability, and also about the "spending gap."

"You mentioned private funding? Where? What?" she asked commissioners.

Other residents expressed concerns that the facility, in order to save costs, might be open for limited hours, making it inaccessible to some people. Mr Dunn mentioned potential ice rink hours from 6 am through midnight, and the pool remaining open until 10 pm.

Jan Roman addressed the commission and fellow residents Tuesday night, offering a new idea. She noted the many sports and recreation opportunities already available in town.

"Maybe it's time for something else," she said. She feels it will "go over well to stay within the $15 million budget," and build a "really nice arts and crafts center," and a "lively building" that could potentially have a 12/14 memorial off of that and "fill the memorial with joy." She said that a pool or ice rink "wouldn't be used by as many people."

The rink and pool "are in addition to the community center where all those things can happen," Mr Hartgraves responded.

Chris Carvalo voiced her concerns that given the size of the pool and community center, "it seems the center is an after thought; a lot of pool with a little community center."

The pool, she said, is an estimated 30,000 square feet, the ice rink an estimated 61,000 square feet, with a 13,000 square foot community center. She raised concerns that the costs for heating and cooling a pool to ideal temperatures for different activities would be costly.

Regarding the overall plans, she said, "We're thinking of everything but the most fragile members of our society.

"It's tough to tackle mental health - if not factored in, we're missing a big opportunity," Ms Carvalo said.

Peter Van Buskirk said he would like to see a way to keep costs for use down for residents.

"Use the GE operating funds more aggressively to make this a lower cost experience," he suggested.

Others shared the thought that mental health "is a broken system," and the center should be something groundbreaking. Attendees also asked questions about those without enough money to pay to use the facility, saying that if some people can't get in, "it's not right."

Commission on Aging Chairman Curt Symes feels the center's 13,000 square foot space "is not big enough for programming." He said the space "doesn't come close" to meeting community needs as a multi-purpose space. The space is meant for use by all demographics, NCCC Co-Chair Andy Clure responded.

Newtown Cultural Arts Commission Chair Laura Lerman also feels that 13,000 square feet "is too small."

NCCC Commissioner Bill Buchler agreed that they could look again at the square footage and "maybe 13,000 square feet isn't right."

Paul Fadus warned residents that money potentially coming through the CIP "is money we borrow." The $5 million of GE money marked for programming can keep a standalone community center running for 15 years, he said. He doubts that an ice rink will be viable. If such a concept worked, then a private developer would have done it already, he said.

"Projects like this will not bring in money. And emotional healing? We lost our children and educators and that's what this center is supposed to fill - just give it to us, dammit," he said.

Mr Buchler disagreed that the commission had not considered "why we're here." And what happens after 15 years when the GE funds run out? "I don't think we should pass along debt," he said.

One mother of two was pleased at the prospect of a rink and pool, saying she so frequently had to leave town to find programming. She "would love for these services," such as pottery, swimming, ice skating, to be in town.

"If I can keep my children in town, that helps them heal," rather than going outside of town where they may have to explain that they are from Sandy Hook.

Another resident suggested that they "keep it simple," and start with a community center, and "if more seems practical, build as a separate project."

On Saturday, February 6, the second of the four forums was filled primarily with senior citizens, according to Commission on Aging Chairman Curt Symes.

Meeting minutes record that commissioners fielded questions and comments including: "We need a Senior Center now - people have been paying taxes for   years and should have a nice Senior Center. Answer: "But the CCC was not charged with creating a senior center. Feedback the CCC received was that people wanted to have a multi-generational space. But this community center will have a great deal for seniors also."

Commissioners answered the question about how the senior center was rolled into the community center this way: "The town had been trying to get a new senior center for years, when the gift came, [First Selectman Pat Llodra] dusted off some of the plans and thought we could use the money to accomplish this. As a result many people rejected that idea because the gift was for the entire community."

In 2014-15, a previous community center task force had spent 14 months researching how best to use the GE gift. That group had come up with a phased approach which would have included a senior and aquatic center, all of which would be available for community use. The proposal failed to gain public support.

Regarding the features that the current commission feels will draw revenue, the minutes from the February 6 forum state:

"Edmond Town Hall is 85 years old and is supposed to be self-sustaining. Without theater it could not be self-sustaining. Feature that attracts participation is important. There is a large constituency that wants a rink and large pool and these things would be revenue generating."

Comments included: "GE has given money for a purpose - let's use GE money for a standalone [community center] that costs less than $10 million. We should not add more money to taxpayers' burden, we could have CC free for 20 years."

The commission's answer: "CIP is taxpayer money but it's about what we want to invest in our town to improve it. CIP is about spreading cost of necessary and desired improvements over time. Another pool in town should be supported by taxpayers."

Another comment noted, "Money was given due to 12/14 and we're forgetting about the most fragile members of society seniors and teens."

The response: "Healing takes place through different ways, but most heal when they're together with others. CCC is trying to find a common area that would bring people together. This could be at a pool."

During a separate conversation on February 10 Mr Symes said the "seniors are rising up, and getting concerned about what's going on."

They need their own building and their own space, he said.

"We're at a point where the town needs to stand up and deliver on a senior center," he said. Although seniors will have access to shared and managed space in the new center, he sees it as "the first step in a journey to a new senior center" and a "good start," but seniors need to be out of the current building on Riverside Road.

"The future needs to be now and we need to do a parallel effort," Mr Symes said. "The community center goes forward on its own. We'll have an opportunity to use the space, but we need to be out of the despicable building in Sandy Hook and connected to the community center."

He estimates that they would need 8,000 square feet at a $2.5 million expenditure.

Mr Symes hears from many seniors that they have paid taxes for years "and what are they getting as a senior? Not much."

For many years the town has had community center funds in its CIP and the senior center has always been a component, Mr Symes said. But he feels that several times the senior center was "pushed to the back of the bus."

Has the commission's planning changed course following any of the public conversation at recent open forums? "That's a very good question," said Co-Chair Andy Clure.

"There are a lot of opinions in town - feedback has opened my eyes," he said, to residents' thoughts about scenarios his commission has put forth for a Newtown community center. "We have not anticipated every question, but that's why we're doing these forums. I am proud of our group - we want to engage as many people as we can.

"We mentioned just a community center early on … but this place needs to make at least an attempt to be self-sustaining," he explained. "We are hearing that people don't want it to impact their taxes … a community center on its own will easily lose money annually based on models members have put together.

"Think of the Edmond Town Hall without the theater and rooms to rent," he pointed out.

But speaking for himself and not necessarily the commission, Mr Clure said "If we are getting strong feedback for just a community center, then that's probably what we'll go with." If members make a final proposal of a 26,000 square foot community center at $9.2 million, "with ample funds to run, it would be no burden to taxpayers in the next ten years," he estimates.

On Saturday, February 13, the commissioners will meet following the final forum and discuss a proposal "and come up with our final plan that we'll recommend to selectmen on February 29," Mr Clure said.

The finance board and Legislative Council will also review the proposal before selectmen set a referendum date for the town to vote.

.The draft proposal presented during the public forums of February 9 and 13 can be viewed