City considers Orono-Old Town collaboration

February 22, 2007 

            A proposed merger of Old Town’s and Orono’s recreation programs was the topic of discussion between the Old Town City Council and the Parks and Recreation Committee at a joint workshop last Thursday.

Old Town city manager Peggy Daigle said that a collaboration with Orono would mean more opportunities for quality recreation programs. Old Town’s current projected revenue for its recreation programs is $40,000.

“The (Old Town Recreation) Department can’t go another year without a recreation director,” she said. “I don’t know if the money’s there, or if the kids are there, but splitting the difference with Orono would be a perfect fit.”

Daigle estimated that the cost of hiring a new full-time recreation director for Old Town would be about $67,192 for salary and benefits. According to one of her recommendations concerning the proposed merger, Brianna Bryant, currently the director of the city’s recreation programs, would become a staff member at Orono. Old Town would offer the use of the Herbert Sargent Community Center for the use of recreation programs without charge. All of the revenues from the programs would go to Orono while all programs would be offered to Old Town residents at the same rate as Orono residents are charged. Old Town would pay for the upkeep of the facility.

“The kids don’t care who’s providing the programs,” she said.

Daigle said that Orono had proposed writing a grant to facilitate the merger, pending the outcome of further study comparing similar collaborations. The study would also help to sort out revenue allocations, she said.

At the same meeting, city council and committee members exchanged views on the status of the Old Town Pool. Daigle recommended that the pool remain a city-owned and managed facility and program, but suggested that a contract with the YMCA with specific conditions. According to her recommendation, pool personnel would include a pool coordinator-swim coach, a part-time maintenance person, lifeguards, and a janitorial staff. The pool would also be used for swim lessons, school coordinated swimming, and sports specialty camps, and sports competitions.

City council member Jamie Dufour said that it was essential that the pool not become a part of the proposed collaboration.

“We need to focus on the pool and make it our jewel,” he said.

Daigle also touched on the Parks and Recreation Committee to find their role within the city.

“I know they’ve struggled with what their role is,” she said, but suggested that the proposed merger would allow them more opportunities to work with the department itself.