Isaiah, sponsor of Citizen Warrant Article H and owner of the athletic club at 117 Orange Street, told the Finance Committee he is asking the town to appropriate $300,000 to help launch a one‑year pilot teen recreation and mentorship program aimed at 14‑ to 18‑year‑olds.

The program, Isaiah said, grew from the town’s behavioral‑health research identifying a gap in services for teenagers. “We need to create, repurpose, or construct new spaces for kids to have things to do,” he told the committee, and described in‑person coaching, one‑to‑one mentorship and school partnerships as central elements.

Isaiah said the program currently serves roughly 10–20 teenagers at a time and that he has worked with the high school, including Superintendent Elizabeth Hallett and Athletic Director Travis Lombardi, to design school‑linked activities and to pursue options for school credit. He gave two budget figures: an estimated full annual operating budget of about $600,000 if the program served all 600 high‑school students at a $100‑per‑month service level, and the citizen warrant ask of $300,000 that would expand current capacity as a one‑year pilot.

Committee members pressed for details on facilities, governance and finance. Peter confirmed Isaiah recently purchased a property at 1 Cherry Street and said the current operations would be based at the athletic club at 117 Orange Street; Isaiah said a proposed new 7,000‑square‑foot clubhouse on the Cherry Street parcel is part of a longer‑term vision but not yet permitted.

Jeremy and others asked about the budget and sources of outside funding. Isaiah said he had applied to the Contract Review Committee (CRC) for $100,000, had asked the local golf club and the Community Recreation Council (CRC) for support, and expected other private fundraising; he said the golf club had not committed funds and that the nonprofit applying to receive town funds has begun the 501(c)(3) process with Mark Connelly listed as the nonprofit’s financial chair.

Town administration recommended this request go through the standard contract review and diligence process. Libby (Town Administrator) reminded the committee that the town’s Contract Review Committee exists to coordinate and vet third‑party proposals and that many grant agreements limit the types of operating costs the town can reimburse.

Members also raised governance questions: whether the school should fund this through the school budget, whether staff salaries and housing for year‑round staff were allowable expense items under a town grant, and how a “hybrid” nonprofit/for‑profit operating model would be handled. Isaiah said coaches would divide time between for‑profit summer operations and school‑year nonprofit work and that a full‑time staff would be necessary to retain qualified personnel on the island.

After discussion the committee agreed to table action and requested the sponsor return with the superintendent and Athletic Director Lombardi for the committee’s next discussion so members could evaluate school‑district interest and potential contract language. Committee members also asked Joanna (a CRC member) to coordinate timing with the Contract Review Committee’s deliberations so the committee could consider CRC findings and any recommended funding allocations at the same time.

No appropriation was approved at the meeting; the committee made no funding commitment and left the article pending further review and coordination with the superintendent and the CRC.