PORT ANGELES — The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission has joined the Planning Commission in questioning a proposed staff reorganization plan.
“Be sure to take back to the City Council that the public will be watching this very closely,” Parks Commissioner Jack Harmon told City Manager Michael Quinn.
Quinn and Public Works Director Glenn Cutler attended the park board’s monthly meeting to explain the proposed reorganization plan.
Parks and Recreation Director Marc Connelly also attended in his regular capacity as commission secretary.
Connelly would fall under the public works director in the reorganization plan, and the Parks and Recreation Department would become a subset of the Public Works and Utilities Department.
In another controversial move linked to the proposed reorganization plan, community development planning would come under an expanded economic development director position.
“I am disappointed the City Council chose to exclude us from this process,” said Parks Commissioner Ron Johnson at the commission’s Thursday meeting.
“It seems we are being informed, rather than consulted.
“Public works and parks and recreation have different functions. Parks and recreation needs a vision and its own director.”
Idea on hold
The City Council agreed Tuesday night to delay consideration of the reorganization plan, which is contained in the 2005 city budget and would take effect with passage of the budget, Mayor Richard Headrick has said.
A public hearing on the 2005 city budget was continued until the council’s Dec. 7 meeting.
A motion by City Councilwoman Lauren Erickson last Tuesday to strike the reorganization plan from the budget also was tabled until the Dec. 7 meeting.