But she hoped that the public attention brought to the Family Fitness Center might cause people to stay or bring in new members. She said it might be higher than normal this year because of those unwilling to return to a gym amid the COVID-19 pandemic. One of his initial concerns about the center was that it was used by more nonresidents who did not contribute to the taxes used to offset the center’s deficit.Ĭouncilwoman Ann Thomas Gilbert commented on the percentage of those predicted to leave the gym. Mayor Joe Dominick, who serves on each of the city’s committees, suggested that the difference between rates for residents and nonresidents could be higher. In discussion, the committee’s chair, Councilman Kevin Dayhoff, said he believed this would be the first time the Family Fitness Center raised rates since it was established in 1994. The Finance Committee will review the plan at its Friday, May 29 meeting, which will start at 8 a.m. The meeting can be viewed on the “Westminster, Maryland” Facebook page. If all were to go exactly as predicted for FY21, the center would come in a hair over neutral, with expenditures at $292,349 and revenues at $293,208, according to the report. This assumed 20% of members would leave the gym due to the increased rates or other factors. The department predicted these changes could add about $93,000 in revenue. This was one of the measures suggested by members of the public who signed a petition to keep the Family Fitness Center open.Ĭhild care would also be able to be purchased separately as an add-on. The third recommended step is to increase monthly membership rates and add an annual maintenance fee. The department would cut hours when usage is lowest, Gruber said.

The hours the center would be open and the hours it would have child-care services were chosen based on member usage. These reductions would be modest, according to the report.įitness classes would go from about 50 per week to about 40. With those cuts, the center would be looking at reducing operating hours and the number of group fitness classes held per week, once the center reopens. These savings in salaries and benefits would mean about $169,000 less in expenses in the upcoming year. One action would be reductions in full-time benefited staff and temporary staff. Abby Gruber, director of Recreation and Parks, presented a report on the department’s three-pronged plan for the center at the May 26 committee meeting.

Westminster rec center gym