Federal funds save Teen Center

By LESLIE MODICA
(Fosters, Spet. 20, 2008)

DOVER — Federal earmarks bucked negative political connotations in Dover after city officials learned an earmark would keep the Teen Center open for at least the next three years.

After months of waiting for a final answer, Police Chief Anthony Colarusso said the city finally got the green light for the $223,000 grant through a personal phone call from U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter Thursday night.

The potential elimination of the Teen Center director position became a hot topic during budget season, when dozens of teens and parents filled the City Council Chambers to advocate for the center — an effort that ultimately resulted in an informal City Council decision to commit funding to the center despite budget cuts.

But the behind-the-scenes story of the federal funding began long before the throngs of Teen Center supporters approached the council, and even before the item was known to be a budget cut.

Colarusso said he was approached by Shea-Porter months ago with a simple question — If federal money could be secured for the Police Department, what would it be used for?

Since then, he said, Shea-Porter was "instrumental" in securing the funds, which will be enough to pay the salary and benefits of Teen Center Director Steve Pappajohn with a little extra to expand programming to include an increased focus on anti-gang education and activities.

Colarusso said the department has wanted to introduce more youth programs with an anti-gang emphasis, and the Teen Center has provided a natural partner with its existing programs, which largely focus on drug- and alcohol-prevention programs.

"It dovetails nicely into what the Teen Center already does," Colarusso said. "We will still be able to do all the activities that were previously conducted, but there will just be more of an emphasis on targeting certain at-risk youths that might be prone to being attracted to gangs or gang-type activity."

Shea-Porter said that when she learned about the work of the Teen Center, it was a natural desire to try to find funding to make the continuation of the program possible.

"It's a terrific project and essential to the community," Shea-Porter said. "It's very different for kids today. They need to have a safe place to go and have role models. This project dovetails nicely with what our goals are for the community."

The city received notice this summer that it has been approved for the funding, but was awaiting final approval by the Office of Justice Programs for what the money would be used for, Colarusso said.

"It is much needed," Colarusso said. "Especially in light of the tax cap. I can't think of anything more important to spend the money on based on the situation than the Teen Center."

And as an added bonus, the city was able to keep Pappajohn on the city payroll during the few months of funding limbo by hiring him through the Recreation Department to fill vacant seasonal positions to help run recreation programs. By doing so, the city avoided losing the popular director.

"We were very happy with Steve's performance, his innovation and his connection with the kids," Colarusso said. "He's a commodity. That's the key, when you have a very good employee, you don't want to lose him."

Although the Teen Center is secure for the next three years, Colarusso said it is too early to speculate what will happen when the federal funding runs out.

"So much can happen," Colarusso said. "One thing we constantly do is look for alternative funding. We do that not only for the Teen Center but for a lot of things we do. We will first look at available funding, such as grants, and if that doesn't become available and the grant expires, we will see what the priorities are three years from now and what the taxpayer is willing to fund."

Under the original proposed Fiscal Year 2009 budget, the Teen Center was going to transition into a three-day-a-week, drop-in center using part-time employees and interns.

But the full-time operation of the Teen Center was restored this summer at the direction of the City Council.