After almost 14 years of managing the North Haven Fitness & Wellness Center, the Penobscot Bay YMCA will step aside and hand operations back over to the Town of North Haven on November 1.

The facility, at 21 Town Office Square, was originally constructed as a school gym and is owned by the Town. It has been operated by the Penobscot Bay YMCA as part of an MOU with the town since January 2009, according to a news release issued jointly by the Town and YMCA.

Under the terms of the MOU, the Town maintained and paid for all expenses related to facility structure and utility costs, while the Y provided equipment, supplies, staffing support, and daily operational management. Members were able to access weights, cardio equipment, gym space, and basketball during weekdays via a key-code access system.

The Town will continue to run the fitness center as a fee-based facility and hopes to hire the existing local Y staff member to continue to manage the space on behalf of the town.

“We have been considering this transition for over a year now, and we are working together with the Penobscot Bay YMCA to provide a seamless transition for current Y members,” said Town Administrator Rick Lattimer, in the release. “The Town will have a month-long ‘open house’ in November to encourage community members to visit and use the facility. Starting December 1, community members who wish to access the Center will pay their monthly facility fees to the Town instead of to the Penobscot Bay YMCA. Year-round residents who wish to continue to visit YMCA branches in Rockland and Rockport will have the ability to add a North Haven Mainland Pass to their Wellness Center membership via the Town’s billing program. The Town is working on the details and will announce them separately.”

One reason for the transition is due to insurance and risk management limitations, which currently prevent the Y from allowing members to bring their children into buildings that are not staffed, the release said. The Town of North Haven will be able to permit this use, due to the fact that state law caps the limits of liability for Maine municipalities and towns in the case of injury or harm.

“This decision to transition is bittersweet, as our Y has enjoyed the opportunity to serve the island community of North Haven,” said Whitney Files, Penobscot Bay YMCA CEO. “However, we are also happy that the Town will have the ability to open the fitness facility to children of members, as our private insurance policy could not underwrite this particular use for an unstaffed space. We look forward to our continued partnership with the Town to provide year-round island residents with special access to our Y branches in Rockland and Rockport.”

North Haven residents who wish to become a member of the Wellness Center, should contact the North Haven Town Office for more information at 207.867.4418.

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