During their meeting Monday night, members of the Aurora Park Board approved reverting to a resolution that limits the board’s responsibility to regulating and establishing rules and regulations for the use and conduct of the city’s recreational facilities and recommending capital improvements for the development of the parks.
This means the board is no longer bound by an intergovernmental agreement that had it responsible for employees, equipment and operation of the parks. Those items will be handled by other departments and be funded by the general fund, not the park fund derived from the park tax.
The fact the board is no longer in charge of employees came into play later in the meeting. The agenda for the meeting listed a closed session item relating to hiring/firing/disciplining of employees.
Theresa Pettit, board secretary, made a motion to go into closed session; the motion died for a lack of a second. City Manager Tony Stonecypher advised the board it was not appropriate to go into closed session for the item listed. He noted items from the community relating to personnel should be referred to him. While he can discuss policy, he can discuss no specific names with the board.
“It’s no longer our responsibility to attend to things of this nature,” said Jennifer Woody, board president.
Stonecypher noted there had been an employee issue, but he had acted upon it. Information about the incident is in the personnel file and not for public view.
“We asked to give up this responsibility,” said Woody about personnel issues.
“I thought we were in control until tonight,” said Pettit. “I guess we should have done this before the intergovernmental agreement.”
Stonecypher asked Judy Dingman, publisher of The Aurora Advertiser, about her thoughts on the issue. She noted both John Woodard, city attorney, and Jean Maneke, attorney for the Missouri Press Association, had indicated the closed session item was no longer appropriate for the board since it had no control over employees.
Other Business
In other business, the board:
• noted a full report on the Craftsman Across America event and the subsequent donation to the city’s parks would be coming at the September 13 meeting
• learned four Boy Scouts working on their Eagle Scout Projects, which will be in the city’s parks, are working on funding at this time
• designated board members on the following committees: Walking Trails -- Melissa Briggs, Victor Williams and Ana Aparicio; Capital Improvements -- Ray Perry and Bob Moffitt; Fundraising -- Woody, Pettit and Aparicio. Each committee will seek two to three community members to participate, as well.
• heard a report from Stonecypher regarding the Brownfields Grant for Baldwin Park. He noted work on adding topsoil to some areas will begin soon. There may be possible grant funding for fencing.
• voted to have Richard Werner, architect, recertify some plans for the restroom facility in Oak Park at a cost of $500
• learned the Aurora FFA Chapter is interested in doing some projects in the parks
• learned from Stonecypher the projected income for the board this year is $82,000
• heard a report from the city manager that Emily Journagan has accepted the position of recreation coordinator. Her official starting date is August 24.
The next meeting is slated for 7 p.m., September 13.
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During their meeting Monday night, members of the Aurora Park Board approved reverting to a resolution that limits the board’s responsibility to regulating and establishing rules and regulations for the use and conduct of the city’s recreational facilities and recommending capital improvements for the development of the parks.
This means the board is no longer bound by an intergovernmental agreement that had it responsible for employees, equipment and operation of the parks. Those items will be handled by other departments and be funded by the general fund, not the park fund derived from the park tax.
The fact the board is no longer in charge of employees came into play later in the meeting. The agenda for the meeting listed a closed session item relating to hiring/firing/disciplining of employees.
Theresa Pettit, board secretary, made a motion to go into closed session; the motion died for a lack of a second. City Manager Tony Stonecypher advised the board it was not appropriate to go into closed session for the item listed. He noted items from the community relating to personnel should be referred to him. While he can discuss policy, he can discuss no specific names with the board.
“It’s no longer our responsibility to attend to things of this nature,” said Jennifer Woody, board president.
Stonecypher noted there had been an employee issue, but he had acted upon it. Information about the incident is in the personnel file and not for public view.
“We asked to give up this responsibility,” said Woody about personnel issues.
“I thought we were in control until tonight,” said Pettit. “I guess we should have done this before the intergovernmental agreement.”
Stonecypher asked Judy Dingman, publisher of The Aurora Advertiser, about her thoughts on the issue. She noted both John Woodard, city attorney, and Jean Maneke, attorney for the Missouri Press Association, had indicated the closed session item was no longer appropriate for the board since it had no control over employees.
Other Business
In other business, the board:
• noted a full report on the Craftsman Across America event and the subsequent donation to the city’s parks would be coming at the September 13 meeting
• learned four Boy Scouts working on their Eagle Scout Projects, which will be in the city’s parks, are working on funding at this time
• designated board members on the following committees: Walking Trails -- Melissa Briggs, Victor Williams and Ana Aparicio; Capital Improvements -- Ray Perry and Bob Moffitt; Fundraising -- Woody, Pettit and Aparicio. Each committee will seek two to three community members to participate, as well.
• heard a report from Stonecypher regarding the Brownfields Grant for Baldwin Park. He noted work on adding topsoil to some areas will begin soon. There may be possible grant funding for fencing.
• voted to have Richard Werner, architect, recertify some plans for the restroom facility in Oak Park at a cost of $500
• learned the Aurora FFA Chapter is interested in doing some projects in the parks
• learned from Stonecypher the projected income for the board this year is $82,000
• heard a report from the city manager that Emily Journagan has accepted the position of recreation coordinator. Her official starting date is August 24.
The next meeting is slated for 7 p.m., September 13.
