A search has begun anew for top brass at the newly created Parks and Recreation Department and in the meantime retired Superintendent John VanBrocklin has stayed on to keep the department running smoothly.
Finding candidates with the combination of business and personnel skills has proved difficult and the controversy over past operations makes the posts both challenging but also risky. One of the two positions requires scoring in the top three on a civil service test to be given in early February. The top post does not require a test.
The job has become more than just overseeing fields, pools and ice. In fact those functions are handled well by staff. The issues of dealing with users of the facilities, contracts, alcohol sales, handling of money, concessions and more represent the challenge and the need for a skill set of both business and life experience. The first go around didn't pan out despite some good applicants.
The job listing will be placed next week in hopes of reviewing a list of applicants by February.
Watertown To Start New Search For Parks & Rec Leader WWNY TV 7 - News, Weather and Sports for Watertown, NY Local News
12 comments:
the way your city is run, who would want the job?
From the beginning, this was my reservation about the direction council took. I speculated that hiring a person with the skil set and talent to do the job would require a big paycheck.
It is basically all the talents of a successful business owner that are needed. Unless you can find someone such as Graham himself to do the job out of generosity.
Otherwise you are left with failed business owners as applicants. And a lot of them fail because of the same mistakes that are trying to be fixed in the recreation department.
The city is making it's own problems here...this is not rocket science you know. You have a flow chart of responsibilities and always someone to answer to. Come on you guys/girls get your basket together and get this done. The longer you dally...the more critical the constituency becomes. Step up and do your job. Make a probationary appointment...review it in six months...change if necessary...permanently appoint if not.
Oh I don't know 9:12...just look at how well The Donald has fit in at the JCIDA.
1035- good one!!! And he sets his own fees and bails out his own paper mill.
The constituency doesn't really care. And no it isn't rocket science, it is more like Alchemy. To make a silk purse you need some silk.
Hey 1035 and 252 you've got it, and I thought I was the only one who realized it.
The old question remains. You guys PAID Mr Gene Hayes to do the job, just like you gave him the raise to run the airport. You can argue whether or not he is responsible for screwing up Parks and Rec, but the fact remains, he will not be running that dept any more. So, will you cut his pay. His responsibilities have been greatly reduced yet his pay remains at the previous high level. After all, CSEA and all the city employees in other depts have made sacrifices. Not Mr Hayes. All he did was screw things up and walk away with big raises.
1100 now which city official would dare to take hard-earned dollars back out of the hands of one of their own? Some underlings will lose out to make up for it...crap doesn't roll uphill.
Reduce Hayes's pay? Such talk! Where would Mary be without his guidance?
The city should look into contracting oversight of P&R, put it out for bid and subject it to open review. As a matter of fact the city should look into contracting staffing for all city jobs, no more costly union contract negotiations and labor issues would be the contractors problem.
The city wouldn't even have this problem if those responsible had bothered to do their jobs in the first place. What good are checks and balances if they aren't followed through on?
"Not my jo', man..."
Ferddy Prinz
Nothing seems to be Gene Hayes' job. But the check always seems to be his.
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