News : Parks and Rec Board discussion to continue tonight at Vinton council meeting

The Vinton City Council will continue its discussion about proposed changes for the Vinton Parks and Recreation Board during a special meeting tonight.

The absence of some council members from last week's regular city council meeting compelled Mayor John Watson to delay the discussion; the council agreed to hold a special meeting to finish business left over from last week's agenda. That meeting takes place at 7 p.m. tonight at City Hall.

The council has been asked to consider an ordinance that will take the authority of the Vinton Parks and Recreation Board to hire a director and other personnel and give it to the city coordinator. Under the new ordinance, it will be the job of the P & R Board to make recommendations to the city coordinator, who would be given authority to make hiring decisions, subject to approval by the city council.

The new ordinance would replace Section 116.03(3) of the city Code with a new section. Section 116 deals with the duties of the P & R Board

That section currently reads:

3. Employees. To employ a director of parks and recreation, assistants and ohter employees necessary for the proper management of the parks and recreational facilities within specific municipal budget allocations, and to receive reports therefrom. Wages, benefits and other compensation of full time and regular part time employees will be fixed by the Council. Wages of temporary and season employees will be set by the Parks and Recreations Board.

The proposed ordinance would eliminate Section 116.03(3) and replace it with the following subsection 3 of section 116.03 on duties:

Employees. Make recommendation to the City Coordinator for the hiring of a Director of Parks and Recreation, assistants, and other employees necessary for the proper management of the park and recreational facilities, who shall be appointed by the City Coordinator, subject to Council approval. The Director shall assume such duties as established in the job description approved by the City Coordinator, City Council and Parks and Recreation Board. The Parks and Recreation Director shall be under the direct supervision of the City Coordinator. The Parks and Recreation Board shall receive from the Director such assistance and information as necessary in the performance of its duties as specified in Section 116.03 of this Chapter. The Director

shall meet regularly with the Board to discuss policies and programs relating to the Parks and

Recreation Department. Wages, benefits and other compensation of full time and regular part time employees will be fixed by the Council. Wages of temporary and seasonal employees will be set by the Parks and Recreation Board within budgetary guidelines.

Boomtown also on agenda

During tonight's meeting, the council will also act on a request from the Iowa Pyrotechnic Association in relation to the annual Boomtown event, which takes place in August this year. The council will also act on a request to fund the event with $1,000 in city funds.