Community Center topic of public meeting

 MAPLETON, Maine — Citizens and officials from the tri-community towns of Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill met with Presque Isle representatives to discuss the Star City’s new Community Center and how it could benefit residents of those municipalities.
Speaking on behalf of the Community Center Fundraising Committee were its chairs, Steve and Lucy Richard, Scott Norton, Chris Beaulieu and Mike Chasse, who also serves as a city councilor for Presque Isle. Other representatives on hand from the Star City were City Manager Jim Bennett, Deputy City Manager Martin Puckett and Councilor Randy Smith.
Representing Mapleton were Town Manager Jon Frederick, and Selectmen Dave Dunlavey, Grant Clark, Scott Smith and Shawn Doyen. Present for Castle Hill were Selectmen Rocky McHatten, Herman Condon and Gerry McGlinn. Selectman present for Chapman was Selectman Pat Sutherland, who also serves on the Community Center Committee.
Discussion kicked off with Committee members telling the audience how they got involved with the project and why the new building is needed — not just for Presque Isle but for surrounding communities.
“We had a rec program like other (towns) but decided we wanted a center for community — kids, teens, families, adults and seniors. As plans have developed, we realized how important it is to get other communities involved and sharing resources,” said Steve Richard.
Having lived and worked in Presque Isle since 1972, Lucy Richard said like many people in and around Presque Isle, her children went to the rec each summer and she knows how important the facility has been for local families over the years.
“It’s time to consider what we can do for the middle-aged and seniors. There are an unlimited number of programs we can come up with or hours open. Chris has noted given the size of the Haskell Center, only one-sixth of the youth population can be served,” said Lucy Richard, noting a larger facility would allow multiple programs to run at the same time, providing more activities for more people of all ages.
Norton said the center began as a $10 million project and has been cut down to $7 million but that public support was key to its completion.
“You all are an important piece of this puzzle. Right now we don’t have finances in order as of yet but hope to get you involved after this evening. I think if we can work together, share responses on how to get this done, it will work,” said Norton.
Beaulieu said the Haskell Center “has served us wonderfully but it’s at a point we need to replace it and came up with this project. The Haskell is a one-program facility.”
As an example, he noted that about 250 kids played rec basketball this year. “With 1,800 kids in SAD 1, that’s only 14 percent who took part.”
“What bothers me most is it takes seven months to serve that 14 percent — just pre-K through seventh grade,” said Beaulieu.
Chasse spoke of his own experience as  a youth attending rec programs and how he moved back to Presque Isle following his skiing accident because it was a “tight-knit community.”
“Right now is the most transformational time for our communities. We can either sit back and see things fall apart or see this as time to fight for our communities — make it a place people will want to stay,” said Chasse.
Smith spoke as a Presque Isle resident who hopes to move to Castle Hill in the future.
“My approach is as a business. Look at the rec program over the next 30 years and what needs to be done and what our goals should be to have as high quality a rec program for our kids as we can. If part of that is joining the Presque Isle Rec program, great, but if not, I understand,” said Smith.
Norton said with both pools gone and the useful life of the Haskell Center done, reinvesting those tax dollars in the new center means “we’re well on our way.”
“I don’t think anyone here thinks the project isn’t a good idea. But you’re here looking for money. I have young kids who use rec programs, but I need to know what the return is we’re going to get. I wish there were more information,” said audience member Dave McPherson, asking that when the information becomes available, it’s made available to the public.
“The issue is you don’t have the team here we want to talk to. Your slogan might change to ‘Commit to believe in Aroostook,’ if other communities are included. But we can’t commit to a building if we don’t understand the plan. Currently kids can walk to programs here. If we commit, will there be buses,” said audience member Terry Sandusky, referencing the Community Center’s tagline of “Commit to community, believe in Presque Isle.”
Marty Pritchard, of East Chapman, said she felt strongly that “we’re of a culture that we throw away things we could still use.”
“You can take stuff that’s already existing and make it into something good. I’ve sat on the sidelines reading the paper, going ‘tsk, tsk, tsk, this is terrible.’ I want to know why start with a new building when so many are available in Presque Isle; MPG’s fairly new, could be retrofitted,” said Pritchard.
Steve noted they’d checked into using the former Crow’s Nest but that they were told “it would probably cost more money and just didn’t fit what we’re trying to do.”
Dunlavey said this was the first time he could recall Presque Isle officials reaching out to other communities, though the project’s been in the works for years.
“After a considerable amount of planning and a year of work, nobody from Presque Isle has come to our board or any of the citizens and asked for our input. Now that it’s at the design phase, now you come to Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill asking us to get involved. No effort’s been made to get us involved for at least a year, though your community’s been actively trying to put this together for a year. No one’s asked us to get involved, what we’d like to see. Now you’re asking and that troubles me. You’re asking us to get involved with little information provided,” said Dunlavey.
“All we’re asking is if this is a concept the three towns would accept or ultimately could refuse,” said Smith.
Steve said the purpose of the night’s meeting wasn’t to talk finances.
“We wanted to talk about what the project is all about, not the cost,” said Steve.
Sutherland noted that when Puckett was the tri-community town manager, invitations were sent to his town officials, including herself, and that’s how she became involved in the project.
Bennett said when the Building Committee got involved, invitations were sent to the three communities.
“All we have right now is a schematic design. If communities want to participate in the process, our Council’s looking to revamp the Building Committee,” said Bennett.
“It’s not fair for these guys to take those questions when they can’t make decisions on them. Council said out of the gate if communities wanted to participate at some level — life of the project — citizens wouldn’t have to pay to participate,” said Bennett.
Discussion continued with one man questioning if there wasn’t money to maintain the indoor and outdoor pool, how would operating costs be handled for a much larger facility and pool/splash pad.
“Facts and figures don’t come together. Selectmen should think long and hard before a decision is made,” he said.
“Funding would be based per capita — you’d be based at a lower level because Presque Isle would get greater impact (from the new facility). It’s something we need to work out as a combined council — yours and ours. It’s not for us to dictate to other communities but rather an idea to work out with you,” said Chasse.
Mapleton resident Andrea Bard Smith noted that the indoor pool and Mapleton Elementary School were about the same age.
“It’s all about maintenance,” she said.
Bennett said funds formerly designated in the budget for operating the pools would now be re-directed to cover expenses at the Community Center.
Presque Isle officials were asked if other communities would be invited to participate, with Norton indicating invitations would be sent to Washburn, Easton and others.
If residents approve the proposal, everyone in their respective communities would be allowed to use the Community Center for free for the life of the structure, which Lucy noted could be 60-80 years. No dollar amount was specified as to the portion Mapleton, Chapman or Castle Hill would be asked to contribute toward the project. If tri-community citizens opt out of the project, their children could still take part in Presque Isle Rec programs for a fee.
“Our select boards can’t do anything in private. We’re learning the same as you. This proposal was presented to the Presque Isle Council and isn’t a formal proposal. We haven’t had anything presented to us yet. We’d want that before proceeding. To continue, we’d have to continue meeting like this. The selectmen wanted to see what you thought of all this. They had their own thoughts but wanted to hear yours,” said Frederick.
For more information on the Community Center or to arrange a presentation, call Presque Isle City Hall at 760-2785.