The Community Center Facilities Committee, with the dedicated support and leadership of the Community Center Director, has had another very active year. Attendance and usage continues to increase.

With the Software donated by Peter and Paul Anderson of e-motion management, tracking more accurate statistics of the use of rooms in the building is now possible.

Statistics:

Count of booked half hours, per month, 3,559.
Count of daily customer visits per day, 734.

Given the statistics above, some 19,818 people, on average, per month, visit the Community Center.

In addition to giving us more accurate statistics, the Software also allows better communication with the individuals utilizing the rooms within the building.

I have provided a Guest Ticket for each of you. This ticket is sent out on a monthly basis to every individual booking for the space in the Community Center. The ticket allows us to keep more accurate records, as well as allows the guest to confirm the information we have, allowing them to make changes or cancellations in a timely manner, if necessary.

The Weight Room continues to be one of the most popular services available in the Community Center.

Last year, at this time when we reported to you, the Weight Room had generated $12,900.from user fees. This year, we are at $16,900., which breaks down into 310 full time memberships at $50. a year, equaling $15,500. Twenty-six (26) half time memberships times $25. equals $650. and five family memberships (family is defined as four or more members in the same household) at $150. equaling $750., for the total of $16,900.

The Center continues to implement holiday celebrations on Halloween and Independence Day (July 4th), for families and children of all ages, with increased attendance.

In addition to the many exercise classes that are offered, the Community Center staff inaugurated computer education classes for all ages. A new program for middle schoolers and their family provides a Friday night movie and evening out for the family.

This wide range of Activities is made possible through the dedicated leadership of our manager, Carolyn Carey and her staff. However, we recognize that their days are augmented by dedicated Volunteers:

Doris Allen, Receptionist and Administrative Assistant 4 days per week
Judy Newton, Receptionist Mondays
Sandy Comption, Receptionist Fridays
Ellie Smith, Building Monitor, Opens Building 5 days per week at 6:00am for weight room use.
Marge Donnelly, Edith Wheat, Betty Pino and all the other Channel 18 volunteers for their support of every Community Celebration.
Eric Sewer, Musician for his art at all the Community Celebrations

The Committee continues to be mindful of the budgetary constraints facing the Town and continues to monitor costs and look for ways economically to serve the COA, Youth and Recreation, Channel 18 and the Community. To this end the Goals of the Committee for FY04 are:

• Establish a Revolving Fund
• Establish reasonable User Fees for space use to offset operating costs of Center operations and overhead costs to the Town for a variety of services.
• Continue to work with the Recreation and Youth Commission and the Council on Aging to clarify User Fees and independent contractor fees and costs.
• Develop a secure storage plan for the basement area, for Recreation and Youth Commission, C O A, Channel 18, the Community Center, Town Clerk, Town Beach and Transfer Station stickers.
• Develop a means in light of budgetary constraints to produce funds to increase available time for usage to meet the continuing requests of the Community.

The Facilities Committee continues to see the benefit and necessity of the Community Center. We continue to work with each group, organization and individual to help meet their needs.

Although we continue to benefit from the various groups, who utilize the facility, we are especially grateful to the Rose Society for their work beautifying the Center. It has been said we have one of the largest rose gardens on the East Coast and like the Community Center, still growing.