Budget committee approves $141,250 recreation budget; rec commission plans new director and relies on revolving account

The Budget Committee approved the 2026 Recreation budget at $141,250 after rec representatives explained they had extended an offer to a new director with roughly 10 years' experience and a master's degree who would begin work Jan. 5. The rec commission said it reclassified a seasonal line into a coordinator salary and expects much program revenue and new sponsorship approaches to be funded from the rec revolving account, which netted roughly $18,000 this year but recently paid approximately $36,000 to the town to clear outstanding invoices.

Committee members asked whether program changes or additional staff would be funded from the revolving account rather than the operating budget. Rec representatives said most program costs will be covered by the revolving account, with exceptions for equipment or capital needs. Members discussed fee levels and affordability, with one member urging the new director to seek sponsorships and local business support (banners, program ads) while keeping the rec programs affordable for residents.

The committee also asked for clarity about how temporary or seasonal positions are represented in payroll lines because different reports show different counts of staff and hours. The rec commission and the committee agreed to provide reconciled lines at the next meeting, and the chair praised Jason, the rec staffer who filled in while the town recruited a new director.