FYI Informational Meeting July 20th 2018:

Tomorrow, Saturday July 21st at 10:00am, we will be having a question and answer meeting about the potential purchase of The Hill Camp at the CYO facility in which we have been renting for the past 14 years. While the property will have much to offer the community, our main focus is the camp. The camp hosts 200 children, which is the capacity according to Health Department regulations. We have been at that capacity just about every year with a waiting list. The camp also employs approximately 50 people, most of which have actually been through our camp system, not to mention Counselors in Training (CIT’s) which can be up to 40 additional people, also who have went through our camp system.

The main purpose for purchasing the camp property is simply so that we can continue to offer the camp to the community. We are faced with 2 realities; First, at the rate of the rent increases, the town will not be able to afford running a camp within a few years . Secondly, the likelihood of us getting a lease after this 2 year deal is “unlikely” due to the fact that the word is out that they are willing to sell the 161 acres.

A bond payment for the 2.1 million the town is looking for should be $180,000 or less per year. Beginning in 2019, we will have available approximately $125,000 plus the normal rental fee of $86,000. That would be $211,000 plus toward a $180,000 payment.

While much conversation has taken place about the potential of the facility, the focus should be about the camp and the town continuing to offer it. When we expand the uses to the pool, trails, gym and all the other facilities, the Parks and Recreation Department will begin the process of working out the logistics so that the entire community can make use of this facilty all year round. This will be the same as what we have done with all of our other facilities and will become operational issues. These are coordinating and budgeting functions that have taken place in this office for many years, and we will continue to be fiscally responsible just as we have in the past.