The final public forum about the proposed Community Center in Newtown is being held this morning.  The forum will be at 10am at CH Booth Library.  The Newtown Community Center Commission is also holding a meeting at noon at Town Hall, where they will talk about a final recommendation to present to the Board of Selectmen.

Several proposals have been discussed and a draft report from the Commission notes that the facility has to be self-sustaining, available to community members of all ages and a place that encourages social interaction.  There are two options being discussed.  One includes a community center, a 50-meter pool, and a zero entry pool.  The other option includes all of those features, plus an ice rink.  During months when the ice rink is not in use, Commission members say it could be drained and used for seating at events for a large audience.

The Commission members believe that the center could turn a profit with in a few years.  By not having pools or an ice rink, they say the facility would be unsustainable because it wouldn't have a way to create revenue.

GE has presented a $15 million gift to the town for a Community Center.  $10 million of which would be used for construction, and $1 million dollars over each of the following five years to run the facility . Some money from the Newtown Capital Improvement Plan fund would be needed, and possibly private fundraising to make up cost differences.