ARNOLD: Creation of new park board proves difficult
The issue was the subject of a lengthy discussion at Thursday's City Council meeting, which drew the ire of a former park board member.
The city wants to create a parks and leisure services board that would replace the recreation center board and the parks board, both of which have voted to dissolve. The new board was requested by Parks and Recreation Director Susie Bone, who said one consolidated board would be better than having two or more.At issue is how many members the new board would have and whether the body would be an ad-hoc board that would meet at the city's behest, or be a more structured, formal body that would meet regularly. Bone prefers a more structured board.
"It is vital that the city have this board to improve the quality of life and park services," she said.
During discussion on the matter, Bone said that the former parks board had been "not functional," a comment that clearly angered former park board member Bob Lindsley, who was in the audience.
Lindsley lashed out city officials asking if any of them had bothered to read the minutes from previous park board meetings.
"We took minutes at our meetings and we made suggestions and recommendations to improve the city parks and we thought they were being forwarded to the City Council for consideration," Lindsley said.
"To say that the parks board did nothing or had nothing to do is not true.
"At least have the decency to read the minutes from those meetings."
Eventually, the City Council chose to create a structured, nine-member board that would meet regularly and that each member would serve a two-year term. Five board members would be chosen at-large, while four others would be chosen from each of the city's four wards.
Not everyone was happy with the decision.
Council members Randy Crisler, Ward 1, and Al Ems, Ward 4, said a nine-member board was too large. Councilman Jerel Poor, Ward 2, said he would prefer to have more public input before making any decision.
A formal vote to create the board will come at a future council meeting.
