The town of Scarborough is accepting applications to join the Ad Hoc Community Center Committee. The application deadline is June 7.

The town council approved the creation of an Ac Hoc Community Center Committee this year to assist with the development of a community center. The committee is charged to “study, evaluate, and analyze relevant opportunities in full and make recommendations to the town council during the feasibility study and design process for a community center,” according to town officials.

The town of Scarborough is accepting applications to join the Ad Hoc Community Center Committee. The application deadline is June 7. Kelley Bouchard file photo/Press Herald

In the fall 2021 community survey, many residents were in favor of Scarborough creating a community center to serve all demographics. The Comprehensive Plan and the new Parks and Facilities Master Plan have also pointed to the need and desire for such a facility.

The committee will provide a space needs analysis, assist in a site selection, prepare a schematic design, create a probable cost estimate, and work with the town to prepare an operational analysis.

There will be nine voting members of the Ad-Hoc Community Center Committee: three members from the 2018 version of this committee, two from the Community Services Advisory Board, and four residents at-large.

There will be four non-voting members composed of two members of the town council, one member representing Scarborough Public Library, and one member of the board of education.

The timeframe goal is to have the project ready to be voted on for the November 2024 referendum.

Town Council chair Jon Anderson commented on the initiation of the process during the March 15 council meeting.

“This was one of our council goals this year, to kind of get this Ad Hoc Committee started,” said Anderson. “My experience on the school building committee is that these things take time to do and do well and do right and there is a lot of great work from the previous committee that is going to be leveraged to address some of that, but there is still a lot of work to be done. So starting now, starting the process now or at least getting the committee set up. By the time the work really starts will happen six months from now for the committee to be functional, so I think this is the right thing to be moving forward at this time.”

To apply or for more information, visit www.scarboroughmaine.org/stay-connected/municipal-projects/community-center.