Town changes in parks and recreation department, three jobs chopped
Posted January
24, 2012
New Tecumseth announced this afternoon that a reorganization of its
parks, recreation and culture department is underway that will reduce
its budget by $100,000, though specific details as to how that was
accomplished were not included in the press release. Only that it was
"through the reduction and realignment of resources."
Free Press Online has learned that three employees within the
department were "declared redundant" and terminated by the Town.
However, two new positions are being created with recruitment to begin
immediately for a Supervisor of Recreation and Community Services as
well as a Marketing and Special Events Specialist.
The changes are intended to shift the focus to "business development
and marketing to increase revenue generation and to ensure the
continued effective delivery of service to its residents."
Last week Manager Ray Osmond laid out an ambitious long range plan that
included expansion of the New Tecumseth Recreation Centre into a
broader multi-use facility that incorporated fitness, seniors, an
indoor pool, and gymnastics component, as well as enhancing services at
the Tottenham Recreation and Fitness Centre, as well as moving forward
with the redevelopment of the community centre in Beeton. All rely on
funding sources.
In the immediate, about $415,000 worth of upgrades are proposed, all
with the purpose of generating more revenue from parks, recreation and
culture programs required to help cover the cost of operating and
servicing the debts that come along with them.
"Part of any budget process is to ensure the resources being provided
to departments are being used in the most effective and efficient
manner," according to mayor Mike MacEachern in an email to Free Press
Online. "The manager recommended a realignment of resources to improve
the service level and revenue generating opportunity for Parks and
Recreation."
