Joint Recreation Committee's future cloudy

New advisory council could be new link

The "building on the hill" is changing the way the 40-year old collaborative effort between the towns of Clarkson and Sweden and the Village of Brockport operate recreation programs for its residents.

"The village has basically been told to get aboard with the changes or get left behind," Brockport Trustee Mort Wexler said.

Town of Sweden Supervisor Nat Lester III said Clarkson has agreed to come on board at least for this year but Brockport has declined to be part of the venture that now includes a recreational facility at the site of the former Golden Heights building.

Presently the three municipalities are part of a joint venture that has provided recreational programs to the community for youth and adults for more than 40 years. Discussion is centering around abolishing the present recreation committee in favor of a new advisory council that would operate through the Sweden Community Center.

Rather than waiting it out to see if the project and the new advisory council was a worthwhile entity, Lester said, there are individuals who are willing to shoot it down without giving it a chance.

A recreation director was recently hired to oversee the community center and the programs.
Lester said members of the advisory council would be chosen by Sweden and Clarkson representatives. "No one has made any mention of the fact that the new advisory council might make the programs better," he said.

By Brockport’s refusal to participate in the community center, they have effectively given up their right to have input into the process of the advisory council, he said.

The Community Center building was donated, as were all the upgrades to the facility. Prior to the center’s opening, Lester asked Clarkson, Brockport and Hamlin to be partners in the endeavor and only Clarkson opted in.

"The Golden Heights building isn’t being used to supplement the recreation program," Wexler said. "It’s being used to change the format and the face of the existing programs."

Wexler said the cost of running the building is more than the cost of running the whole program. "This is all about money, power and politics," he said.

Village Trustee James Whipple said at the June 17 board meeting that officials were told the Joint Recreation Commission would exist until the end of next year and at that time the towns will withdraw their financial support and get new programs. "Our residents can participate," he said. "My objection is that we don’t think all the pieces have been put together."

Trustee Norm Knapp said the cooperative efforts that have existed between the three municipalities had been lauded as a model across the state. "The program wasn’t broke," he said. "I’m not sure why people think it needs fixing."

Lester said there has been communication between the three municipalities and that plans for the advisory council are still being formulated.

Brockport Mayor Josephine Matela said she had met with Lester and discussed the advisory council. "I think we will have representation and we can go to them if people have concerns," she said. "We need to move on and support this endeavor and the new facility."

Matela asked board members for their support in issuing a letter of support to the program. "We need to set this stuff aside and move on for the good of the children and the community," she said.

Even though he wasn’t pleased with the direction the recreation program was headed, Trustee Peter DeToy agreed with Matela. "We should support this and help it succeed … we don’t want to see it fail because it benefits our residents."

Lester addressed concerns of the possibility of rising costs associated with the new building and the recreation programs but said there are individuals in the community who are willing to donate funds so the programs remain accessible for any resident who wants to utilize the facilities. "We’re looking to expand and enhance and we aren’t looking to exclude anyone."