Bayle's Programs Praised

Bayle's Programs Praised

Selex OK Contract with B&G

The Randolph Selectboard unanimously agreed Tuesday night to a contract that will turn over operation of the Town's recreation program to the Boys & Girls Club.

The program will still be monitored by the town Recreation Committee, which will continue to set overall policy, but day-to-day operation will be in the hands of the B&G Club.

The contract approved Tuesday night runs just four months, to the end of the fiscal year June 30. However, it was confidently expected that the contract will be renewed for another year at that time.

The cost of the four-month contract will be $10,000, while the year's contract would be $95,500.

Selectboard members say that that the contract will save the town money because it will not have to hire a recreation director and other workers. It is also hoped that association with the national B&G Club organization may bring national resources to bear on Randolph's recreation program.

Selectboard members had expected some opposition to show up at the meeting. They noted that a petition had been circulated asking that the entire Town Meeting be asked to vote on the idea of farming out the recreation program.

The petition apparently did not receive enough signatures and was never filed, however; and no opponents showed up.

To the contrary, the board meeting was filled with about a dozen people praising the idea and praising the B&G Club's programs under its director, Larry Bayle.

One after another they stood and offered rave reviews of Bayle's programs and the supportive way he works with children.

"It's been a very good avenue for my athletic little boy," said Ken Smith.

Phyllis Forbes said her daughter came to the same conclusion from the opposite perspective. The seven-year-old told her that "I was really anti-sports and now I can't get enough of it."

"She's dribbling the basketball all over the house—thank you Larry," said Forbes with a dry smile.

Also speaking up were Beth Hary Keenhold, Deb Lary, policeman Tom Simpson, Becky Seymour, Nancy Reid, Carmella Cyr, and Julie Brill and Susan Delattre (via letter).

Selectboard Co-Chair Heather Tallman noted that she and the other board members are "comfortable" with the proposal and were glad to hear the public's perspective.

The motion passed 3-0 without further discussion. Selectboard Co-Chair Del Thompson was not present at the meeting.

Other Business

Selectman Kevin Osha noted that the Fire Committee has been discussing purchase of a new second-hand ladder truck. The committee has located a "good deal" but purchase would be a year or more away, he said. The truck would have to be included by selectmen in their capital budget.

Tuesday night's meeting was the last for this Selectboard. The next meeting will be after Town Meeting. The board will have its full complement of five members instead of four.

The board has had a vacancy ever since October, when Dennis Brown resigned. A candidate search was unsuccessful. Four people applied to be Selectboard members, but the four current members split 2-2 in trying to select one.

Unless a write-in candidate is successful at Town Meeting, it appears the new board will include Tallman, Osha, Butterfield, Forbes, and either Thompson or Hutchinson.

Don't Worry—

Not a Fire

If it looks like the old Village School on Main Street is burning this next Monday, don't worry.

It's not. There will be artificial smoke, but no fire.

Randolph fire departments plan a drill in the abandoned building Monday evening, to test techniques for finding their way around a smoky building.