Rec Department Adds New Programs, But Fees Are An Issue

HARWICH – Protests by parents over the lack of recreational programs paid off. The recreation department has put several new winter programs in place, earning praise from the select board.

In a meeting between the board and the commission last week, much of the discussion was about who should be setting program fees, especially at the 204 Sisson cultural center, which is under the jurisdiction of the select board.

Earlier in the fall, parents took issue with the lack of programs available for kids in the community. The lack of activities for kids in Harwich, parents said, forced them to bring their children to programs in surrounding communities.

Recreation Director Eric Beebe told the board that a number of winter programs have been put in place. Beebe said a new K1 and 2 basketball clinic has been set up, along with a travel basketball league, and a new basketball clinic on Wednesday and Friday nights. A new indoor soccer program and a field hockey program are being held in the 204 Sisson gym. There is also a new youth fitness program. In January, Beebe said, there will be a new youth pickleball program. A Friday night family movie series is also underway at the community center, he added.

The programs are in addition to the department’s normal programs, he said, and the plan is to keep expanding, with more programs coming in the spring.

“There are a lot of new volunteers helping out,” added Beebe.

“Great job, it’s great to see some new programs,” said Select Board member Michael MacAskill.

The availability of space for the programs was raised. Beebe said the gyms at the community center and the 204 Sisson are being used every day and there is competition for space.

Select Board member Jeffrey Handler asked about adult pickleball at the 204 gym. There are programs from 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday and two-hour sessions on Tuesday and Friday nights, Beebe said. Select Board Chair Julie Kavanagh wanted to know what the plans are for providing access to pickleball courts for people who just want to play and not be part of a league.

Beebe said an open court policy will be in place for use of the new pickleball courts being constructed at Brooks Park. One or two of those courts will be reserved for people who just want to show up and play, he added.

Fees drew a lengthy discussion during the meeting. Select Board member Donald Howell and Town Administrator Joseph Powers cited a state statute that requires fees presented by an appointed body be subject to “review and approval” by the elected board making the appointments. That has not been the case with fees for revolving account programs in the recreation department. The practice has been for the recreation director and the commission to set fees associated with programs funded through revolving accounts.

“We don’t establish the rates but we have the right of approval,” Howell said.

“Putting the fee structure outside the recreation department could create some issues, leaving certain families out,” said Recreation and Youth Commission Chair Leah Mercurio. “We have around a 30 percent low income family population in the schools. I think it’s important to keep those fees as low as possible for Harwich residents.”

It’s important for the recreation director to have the ability to set revolving fund fees for programs, said Commission member John Mahan. Funds have to be available in a timely manner, but requiring an approval by the select board could keep programs from starting on the day they are scheduled to start, he said. Kavanagh said that makes sense when funds are used to establish a program.

Fees in the revolving fund come from program registration.

There is nothing in the town charter about the recreation department establishing fees, said MacAskill. Mahan said the select board’s handbook identifies the duties of the recreation and youth commission as “setting policy and fees.”

Select board members expressed little interest in approving fees for revolving fund programs. MacAskill said he does not want to get into micromanaging the commission.

There was much more interest in the select board controlling setting fees for programs scheduled in the 204 Sisson cultural center, which falls under the board’s jurisdiction. MacAskill said when the use of the former middle school was brought to town meeting, the board made it clear to voters that they would do “the best we can for cost recovery in that building.”

MacAskill said the pickleball program “does not come close to the cost of operating that building.”

Commission member Brian Wentworth recommended a flat fee per hour be established to cover the cost for use of the 204 Sisson gym, with the recreation program fee added to the base price. There was support for that concept.

Commission members also agreed the select board should be the body that sets the fees for use of the cultural center building.

Kavanagh said the board might want to look at establishing a two-tier fee structure, one being for the kids.

Handler agreed they should consider offsetting kids’ rates with other fees. He said it is the responsibility of the town to provide these value-added services, and the structure can’t be equated to a private business.

“The fee structure has to be doable for everyone in the town,” Handler said.

The select board also raised issues about the recreation department’s rental of Brooks Park to for-profit entities. MacAskill said such rentals have been brought to his attention. Traditionally the park has been rented to nonprofit organizations.

Mahan said in his 20 years on the commission this has never been an issue.

“I’m not saying it’s never happened, but it's the first time it’s been brought to our attention. It seems to be working well,” said Mahan. The application could be changed to read “for-profit” organizations are prohibited from renting Brooks Park, he suggested.

Calling himself “the fee waiver no guy,” MacAskill took issue with the recreation and youth commission waiving fees for use of properties under its jurisdiction. He said there is a cost for doing business on the properties. The select board is the only one who can waive fees, he said, so the public can see what the board is doing and why.

Commission member David Nixon said the select board has many important issues before it, and he does not see the need for the board to focus its time on a waiver request from the nonprofit organization.

“There are certain things this board does not have to wrap its head around,” Nixon said.

Beebe was also asked when the department’s new website “My Rec.com” will be rolled out for public use. Beebe said it will go online Jan. 8 for program registration, roster information, and planning purposes. However, the program payment aspect of the website will not be ready until the end of January.