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By CHASE WRIGHT

cwright@thestamfordtimes.com


STAMFORD -- The board of representatives approved the proposed fee increases for Stamford summer camps Monday night, despite the opposition of vocal board members.

Stamford residents will have one more opportunity to voice their opinions to the Parks and Recreation Committee before the overall board makes their final decision on the matter next month.

The board's final vote came to 25-6 in favor of approving the committee's proposed rate increases for area summer camps, supervised playgrounds and activity programs.

The city's three summer camps at Dorothy Heroy Park, Davenport Ridge Elementary and Westover Magnet Elementary, will increase their regular rates from $800 to $900. For those children who qualify for free or reduced school lunch, their rates will increase from $200 to $375.

Before their vote, board members continued to debate the issue, which has drawn a surprising level of controversy.

"The fact is, the reduced rates have not increased in many years," said Rep. Joseph Coppola, R-15. "I don't see why it is so objectionable, after so many years, to increase the rates from $200 to $375."

The reduced fee rates at the three summer camps haven't been raised in six years, Parks Department Superintendent Mickey Docimo has said.

The proposed rates are necessary to maintain competitive standing with other municipal and private day camps many of which have increased their rates on a yearly basis, said Docimo. The rate increases are not meant for the programs to gain revenue or even break even, he said.

"The programs we have in this city are excellent programs," said Coppola. "These programs need money. You can't expect the Parks Department to provide the same level of service without raising costs."

Parks & Recreation Committee Chair Linda Cannady, D-3, reiterated her stance Monday night that fee increases to the programs are necessary, but that those increases shouldn't be so significant at one time.

Cannady was among those at Monday's board meeting who supported Rep. Elaine Mitchell's, D-2, suggestions for the rate increases -- raising the summer camps' regular rates from $800 to $925 and the reduced rates from $200 to $325. Mitchell reasoned that increasing both regular and reduced rates by $125 would be a more uniform change.

But the majority of representatives wouldn't be swayed. At the request of Rep. Gregory Lodato, R-20, the amendments were separated into two motions. The board narrowly defeated her regular rate proposition 15-16-1 and her reduced rate proposition failed to pass by a count of 13-18.

The public hearing will be scheduled after the Steering Committee meets on Dec. 8.

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