Summertime Blues

Welcome back!

Here’s what we have for you this week:

1. “Zayith Tapas and Bar” Eyes Opening in Former Fugakyu Location

2. Park and Recreation Commission Readies for Funding Battle

3. SudburyWeekly.com News Roundup

Let’s get into

“Zayith Tapas and Bar” Eyes Opening In Former Fugakyu Location

By Kevin LaHaise

In a recent Select Board meeting, the property manager for 621 Boston Post Road asked the board to withdraw a liquor license associated with now-closed Fugakyu restaurant so that a new tenant could apply for a license. Upon learning there was a new tenant, we reached out to multiple sources to find out what kind of restaurant might be opening in the plaza.

We were able to reach the owner of the restaurant, who confirmed they will be opening “Zayith Tapas and Bar.” Though it’s too early in the process of a restaurant opening to share details, they were kind enough to share their vision for the new restaurant with Sudbury Weekly:

The restaurant will go before the Select Board for a restaurant license for the sale of alcoholic beverages next week. It’s too early to share a target opening date, but we’ll continue to update readers as more information becomes available.

Park and Recreation Commission Readies for Funding Battle

By Kevin LaHaise

The Sudbury Park and Recreation Commission, as well as the corresponding Town department, have been grappling with a number of challenges since before the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020. But those challenges have taken on an existential bent in recent conversations amongst the commissioners.

In May we covered a commission meeting in which the financial realities of the department were laid out in great detail. In short, the vast majority of the recreation department is funded by way of fees they collect. It’s a majority self-sustaining entity. The problem, as expressed in that meeting, is that it’s getting harder to generate the revenue they need to sustain the department and maintain fields and courts they already have. To make matters more difficult, they believe more staffing is needed in order to deliver expanded programming that is both desired, and financially sustainable, in the new community center.

The commission reviewed the financial model at length in May, and concluded that they would need to advocate for more funding from the Town budget in order to make the business model work and staff the department sufficiently to meet the programming expectations of residents. The alternative was to significantly increase user fees across the board, and potentially create a membership model for recreation. It was unclear if fee increases would fully remedy the structural challenges the department claimed to be facing.

On Monday, Chair Ben Carmel provided a summary of the takeaways from a recent conversation he had with Town Manager Andy Sheehan, in which he relayed that the commission felt the department needed more support from the Town budget:

Some of the commissioners appeared to be stunned by the news, and at times bewildered. At first they indicated that they were eager to meet with the Town Manager to discuss this further. But commissioner Mara Huston eventually let it rip:

Chair Carmel voiced his complete support for Huston’s perspective and comments. Dennis Mannone, the director of the Park and Recreation department, also commented to add that the Town recently added a free swimming program at Sewataro on the weekends, to which Huston and Carmel agreed that lifeguards are an added expense that pulls from Town revenue, and alluded to challenges hiring lifeguards at Atkinson pool at standard Town wages. Huston rounded out her comments with: “I really hate that the Town is competing with itself, and that the Town has set it up that way. It’s disgusting.” (2:17:10)

While it was clear the Park and Recreation Commissioners were concerned with the idea of losing funding from the Town budget, Town Manager Sheehan has repeatedly informed local boards and committees about anticipated budget pressures and challenges in the coming fiscal years.

The Park and Recreation Commission meeting covered a number of other issues, including gridlock on after school care solutions (35:30), and the indefinite pause of the “Terrific Two’s” program due to licensing requirements. In a bright spot, the commissioners reviewed the RFP for the Fields Needs Assessment. That project has been delayed for approximately two years and is now moving forward.

The commission also discussed the popularity of the new multi-sport court at the Fairbank Community Center, which has been getting heavy use from community members since opening. (23:30) There may be some discussion coming about a Community Preservation Committee application to build a second court that was in the original designs for the community center.

While bright spots weren’t hard to find, the prevailing tone of the meeting conveyed a growing sense of exasperation. The new community center is now open with a variety of new spaces for recreation programs, but programming is backtracking with the declining enrollment in Sudbury Summer and the pause of “Terrific Two’s,” for which a room was just purpose-built. The bathroom noises can be heard throughout the new building, and more drainage work is needed to address pooling water problems on the property, all while residents voice their dismay, including in the public comment time, that they can’t use the new building.

SudburyWeekly.com News Roundup

Parting Thoughts

It’s not surprising that municipal finance is back in the news. The budget season kicks into gear in the fall, and nothing is easy when it comes to town budgets these days. The Boston Globe had a good story this week, largely summarizing what has been going on across the state this year:

It’s too early to know what direction Sudbury is headed in the next fiscal year budget. But the Globe story echoes much of what we’ve heard from the Town about rising costs, inflation and other challenges in Sudbury. Meanwhile, the collective bargaining cycle is almost over, so new contracts need to be negotiated.

That all sets Sudbury up for a potentially difficult budget season, complete with a lot of moving parts. For now, perhaps it’s just a good reminder to enjoy summer while it lasts? Who cares if winter is coming?

Onward!