Sponsors and supporters of a proposed teenage recreation center presented to the committee on Feb. 6, but the committee voted to take no action on the citizen warrant article after discussing funding, nonprofit status and appropriate referral routes.

Isaiah (sponsor) spoke in favor of a new program and said he has privately invested in property and a clubhouse, is operating programs and is seeking town support to expand coaching and services for teenagers. "I think these kids deserve a little better," Isaiah said. He described having invested substantial private funds in property and staff and said he was attempting to assemble grants, donations and nonprofit status to support a program.

Committee members focused on process and funding constraints. Brian (staff member) recommended discussion with the school about including a line item in the school budget and noted that the Community Resource Committee (CRC) and the town's rules for municipal funding are the usual routes for such requests. Members raised the 501(c)(3) requirement for CRC grant applications: the CRC requires an active IRS 501(c)(3) designation at the time of application, and Isaiah confirmed his nonprofit application is pending. Joanna (Finance Committee member) reported the CRC deliberated on Friday and that the item did not go into deliberation because the 501(c)(3) certificate was not active at application time; she said it was not rejected, simply not considered without the active designation.

Board and committee members also urged Isaiah to refine governance and fiscal structure for public funding. Jeremy (Finance Committee member) and others suggested a public-private partnership or a program construct that separates private business operations from a service offering that a public entity could fund. Committee members suggested the Community Foundation, fundraising capacity and CRC as paths to obtain funding; several members urged Isaiah to secure grant/fundraising leadership and an active nonprofit designation.

After discussion, the committee moved and voted to "take no action" on the appropriation article. The motion was recorded as moved by Chris and seconded by Jeremy; Joanna recused herself from deliberation and the vote. Roll call: Chris Aye; Peter Aye; Joe Aye; Jeremy Aye; Rob Aye; Denise Aye. The chair recorded the disposition as "take no action." Isaiah was told he may still present the citizen warrant article directly to town meeting even with the committee's recommendation.

The committee offered to provide off-line guidance on structure and filing routes to increase the proposal's chances of funding via CRC or other avenues.