Parks Board meeting turns heated

The Raytown Parks and Recreation Board meeting was less than calm on Monday night. Steve Guenther and Jason Greene attended the meeting to discuss the proposed Charter for Raytown.  Parks Board members were not happy to find out that under the proposed Charter, they would no longer have the same control over hiring, salaries, and facilities use.  Judge Michael Hannah is reported to have ask Jason Greene, what did we ever do to make them write a charter like this.  Alderman Greene did not or was not able to answer that question.

From Alderman Aziere who was at the meeting…

I attended the Raytown Park Board Meeting last night because they had questions about the proposed charter and the section on the Park Department.  They did not understand why the Park Board had not been personally invited to the meetings when changes in the Park Department were being discussed.

Discussions involving the Park Department requires that the Board of Alderman inform the Park Director.  The Charter Commission did not do that.

Jason Green wrote the section on the Park Department. He was questioned why the Park Department was not informed or invited.  literally, every member of the Park Board were angered when they were told that it was their job to follow the proceedings of the Commission.

The provision allowing the Alderman to override Park Board Decisions incited more anger.  They did not understand what the Park Board had done so badly to cause the commissioners to strip them of their power to run the Park and Recreation Department.

There are two provisions in the Charter outside the section on Park Department that seal control of that department under the power of the Board of Alderman.  I am planning to explain that to the Board of Alderman tonight early in the evening.