[Adopted 8-28-1979;[1] amended in its entirety 9-11-2018]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Art.
III, Recreation and Park Commission, adopted 6-20-1961, effective
9-1-1961, as amended.
There is hereby established in the City of Norwalk a Department
of Recreation and Parks.
A.
The Department shall be charged with the control, development, management,
operation and maintenance of a system of public parks and recreational
areas and facilities now in existence or that may hereafter be acquired,
except 1) narrow parkways, boulevard strips and small areas along
streets, which shall be under the jurisdiction of the Department of
Public Works, and 2) the control, development, management, operation
and maintenance of the Oak Hills Park and all other matters relating
thereto, which, shall be under a separate department, as provided
by ordinance. Said Department shall be charged with the construction,
protection, repair, furnishing, cleaning, heating, lighting and general
care of all public buildings on City parkland, except school buildings
and structures under the jurisdiction of the Board of Education, and
the water pollution control plants, pump stations and the solid waste
transfer station.
B.
The Department shall be charged with the supervision and maintenance
of playgrounds, playfields, bathing beaches, swimming pools, recreation
centers and other recreation and park activities, areas and facilities.
C.
The Department shall have the authority to conduct outdoor and indoor
recreation activities and facilities on public school grounds and
in public school buildings, provided that planned school activities
under the jurisdiction of the Board of Education shall have priority.
D.
The Department, with the approval of the Common Council, shall have
the authority to conduct, at reasonable charges, such facilities for
amusement, entertainment, refreshment or transportation of the public
as are suitable for park and recreation purposes.
E.
The Department may plan, set up or place and protect and care for
flowers, vines, shrubs and trees to adorn and improve public squares,
grounds, boulevards, streets, avenues or spaces within the City.
F.
The Department shall recommend to the Common Council the institution
of condemnation proceedings whenever, in its judgment, private property
should be taken in the name of the City for the purposes of the Department.
G.
The Department shall have the right to call upon any other department
of the City government for assistance in performing its duties, and
it shall be the duty of such other departments to comply with a proper
request of said Department. Any questions as to what shall constitute
a proper request for assistance shall be decided by the Mayor.
H.
The Department shall exercise such other duties as are conferred
on it by ordinance and shall perform such special functions and assignments
as the Mayor and Council may from time to time direct.
A.
The head of the Department of Recreation and Parks shall be the Director
of Recreation and Parks, who shall be in charge of and responsible
for the operation of the Department in carrying out its functions
and duties as set forth in this article. He/she shall be appointed
by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the Common Council, for a
term of four years and may at the beginning of a term be made subject
to a probationary period of service, after which he/she may be removed
during the term only for good cause. The Director reports to the Chief
of Operations and Public Works. The Director so appointed upon the
adoption of this article shall serve until January 1, 1982; thereafter
the term of the Director shall expire on January 1 at intervals of
four years.
B.
The Director of Recreation and Parks shall have substantial training
and experience in recreation and park management and qualifications
conforming to such formal job description as may be adopted by the
Common Council. His/her compensation shall be fixed by ordinance.
He/she shall not, without the express consent of the Mayor, engage
in any business or hold any office, public or private, for which a
salary or emolument is paid.
C.
The Director shall recommend such personnel positions as are required
to carry out the duties and responsibilities assigned to the Department
pursuant to this article. The number, duties, responsibilities and
salaries of such personnel positions shall be set forth in written
job specifications, approved by the Common Council, and shall further
be subject to such other approval of the Board of Estimate as may
be required by law. The Director may appoint and may remove individual
assistants and employees of the Department in accordance with City
policies and procedures. The Mayor shall have the authority to make
temporary reassignments of Department employees to duties in other
City departments during seasonal periods when the Department workload
shall warrant such reassignment.
The Common Council may from time to time adopt such additional
rules and regulations as it shall deem necessary for the proper administration
of beaches, parks and recreational programs within the City in the
following manner:
A.
Prior to adopting any such rules and regulations, the Common Council,
or a committee thereof, shall conduct a public hearing for the purpose
of considering their adoption. Notice of the time and place of such
public hearing, which notice shall include the rules or regulations
proposed, shall be published twice in a local newspaper having substantial
circulation in the City of Norwalk at least five days, but not more
than 15 days, prior to the date of said hearing.
B.
Following such public hearing, the Council shall act upon such rules
and may make such changes or alterations in the form or content of
the proposed rules and regulations as seem appropriate or necessary
as a result of the public hearing held in connection therewith. Such
changes, additions or alterations shall not require further public
notice.
C.
Such rules shall become effective after publication once in a local
newspaper having substantial circulation in the City of Norwalk within
21 days following Council approval.
D.
Any person who shall violate any of the rules and regulations adopted
by the Common Council, as above provided, shall be fined not more
than $100; and the Department shall also proceed against any violator,
as provided by law, for reimbursement for damage to City property
from his/her violation.
A.
The Director shall, with the concurrence of the Council and after
a public hearing, set fees as may be appropriate for the use of City
parks and recreational facilities. Said public hearing shall be held
upon no less than five nor more than 15 days' notice of the time
and place of such hearing, and said notice shall be published in the
form of a legal advertisement appearing in a newspaper having a substantial
circulation in the City of Norwalk. All fees shall be deposited with
the general fund of the City of Norwalk. Fees set by the Director
for participation in individual programs and events shall not be subject
to the provisions of this section.
B.
The Director may, with the concurrence of the Council, establish
such regulations as are appropriate for the administration of the
provisions of this section.
A.
The provisions of this article shall supersede all ordinances or
parts thereof inconsistent herewith. If any part of this article shall
be declared invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, all other
parts shall remain in effect.
