Rec Center members endorse sale

Members of the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center have given their blessing to a proposed sale of the nonprofit center to the parent organization.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20110315/NEWS02/703159895

Published March 15, 2011 in the Rutland Herald

Rec Center members endorse sale

By SUSAN SMALLHEER

Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD — Members of the Edgar May Health and Recreation Center have given their blessing to a proposed sale of the nonprofit center to the parent organization

Christian Craig, executive director of the recreation center, said that about 40 members met Sunday to discuss the proposal, and that 130 members had sent their proxies. All were in support of the proposed sale.

He said that members did have concerns about the proposed sale, but had their questions answered by Glenn Cordner, the chief executive officer for Springfield Medical Care Systems.

Craig said that Cordner was at the meeting for a short while to answer questions and then left, to allow for a frank discussion among members.

“We had a great membership meeting. It was ultimately approved unanimously,” said Craig, who has been with the center ever since it opened, after working at the Burlington YMCA.

“Most of the focus was on the current operation. Glenn alleviated a lot of concerns,” he said.

Craig said that the purchase of the recreation center by the health services organization was a great move. “We are both devoted to the same things,” said Craig.

The membership voted to allow the center board of directors to pursue the purchase, but Craig said that research and negotiations still needed to be done.

Under the plan, the medical systems group would assume the center’s debt of $1.9 million, and the unusual partnership would be attractive to federal grants and private foundations intrigued with the health possibilities.

The center remains committed to having affordable fees, Craig said, so that people from all economic backgrounds can use the center. The center has the lowest fees in Vermont in this part of the state, he said.

“Nothing’s going to change,” he said, with the exception of improved operating times for the therapy pool at the center, which was a joint project with Springfield Hospital and the recreation center. Members at the meeting wanted the therapy pool opened earlier in the day.

Craig attributed the center’s financial troubles to the $1.9 million in debt, and the center’s “unperforming endowment.”

The center is actually a victim of its own success, he said, since the center is busy and crowded, particularly its fitness center.

Expansion of the health and recreation center will be totally dependent on fundraising, he said.

“It’s an exciting proposal for foundations and new vision for health care for the state,” he said.