Town of Charlestown, RI Chapter 36 Parks and Recreation Department

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Charlestown 11-14-1994 by Ord. No. 200.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Parks, beaches and recreation areas — See Ch. 158.

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance repealed former Ch. 36, Parks and Recreation Department, adopted 3-29-1993 by Ord. No. 191.

§ 36-1 Director.

There shall be a Director of Parks and Recreation who shall be appointed by the Town Council upon the recommendation of the Town Administrator. The Director shall possess a bachelor's degree in recreation or a related field.

§ 36-2 Duties and responsibilities of Director.

Under the supervision of the Town Administrator, the Director of Parks and Recreation shall:

A. Advise the Parks and Recreation Commission relative to creating and implementing a comprehensive recreation program in the Town of Charlestown.

B. Maintain and operate public beaches, parks and playgrounds, athletic fields and other community recreation facilities.

C. Conduct and promote recreation, play, sport and physical training.

D. Recommend fees for the utilization of the various recreation facilities and programs, subject to approval by the Town Council.

E. Recommend to the Town Administrator adequate staff hirings for the orderly and efficient operation and maintenance of all town recreational programs and facilities.

F. Prepare an itemized operating and capital budget for the Parks and Recreation Department.

G. Coordinate activities with other town departments and outside agencies.

H. Coordinate all facility maintenance and improvement activities with the Department of Public Works, which shall have primary responsibility for accomplishing these tasks.

I. Perform other duties as may be required from time to time.

§ 36-3 Parks and Recreation Commission.

There shall be an advisory Parks and Recreation Commission consisting of not fewer than nine (9) nor more than thirteen (13) members who shall be volunteer residents of Charlestown. Initially, the members shall be those persons serving, at the time of passage of this ordinance, on the separate Parks and Recreation Commissions which are abolished by the adoption of this ordinance. Thereafter, members of the Parks and Recreation Commission shall be appointed by the Town Council as the currently staggered terms of office expire. All such appointments shall be for three-year terms of office.

A. The Commission shall organize annually by electing a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and Secretary.

B. The Commission shall adopt such rules, procedures and agendas as are necessary to fulfill its responsibilities.

C. The Commission shall hold a regular meeting each month. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson, Director or at the request of three (3) members. All meetings of the Commission or any subcommittee thereof shall be open to the public and held in compliance with the State Open Meetings Law. The Director shall provide clerical assistance as required.

D. Any person, or his/her authorized representative, shall be entitled to attend and be heard on any matter before the Commission.

E. All records of Commission proceedings, minutes, resolutions and actions shall be public and forwarded to the Town Clerk's office.

§ 36-3.1 Ninigret Park Dog Park Facility Sub-Committee.

[Added 10-13-2009 by Ord. No. 318]

There shall be an advisory Ninigret Park Dog Park Facility Sub-Committee to the Parks and Recreation Commission consisting of five (5) members who shall be volunteer residents of Charlestown. The members of the Ninigret Park Dog Park Facility Sub-Committee shall be appointed by the Town Council whom shall serve for 3-year overlapping terms of office. All such appointments shall be for three-year terms of office. The initial appointments shall be for staggered partial-terms to allow for integration to full three-year staggered terms. A member of the Parks and Recreation Commission shall be an ex-officio member of the Sub-Committee. The ex-officio member shall function as a liaison between the two bodies and shall establish and maintain effective communications on all matters of mutual interest and importance.

§ 36-3.2 Duties of Dog Park Facility Sub-Committee.

[Added 10-13-2009 by Ord. No. 318]

A. The Sub-Committee shall adopt such rules, procedures and establish agendas as are necessary to fulfill its responsibilities and adopt and enforce rules and regulations for use of the Dog Park.

B. The Sub-Committee shall hold a regular meeting each month. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson or at the request of three (3) members. All meetings of the Sub-Committee shall be open to the public and held in compliance with the State Open Meetings Law. The Director of the Department of Parks and Recreation shall provide clerical assistance as required.

C. Any person, or his/her authorized representative, shall be entitled to attend and be heard on any matter before the Sub-Committee.

D. With assistance from the town administration, develop rules of procedure under which to function. Said rules of procedure shall be approved by a majority vote of the Parks and Recreation Commission.

E. Establish and manage an association entitled the "Charlestown Canine Club" made up of all residents and non-residents of Charlestown interested in assisting the Sub-Committee in the operation, maintenance and financing of the Dog Park facility.

F. Raise funds from a variety of sources, including user fees, for the purpose of improving, operating and maintaining the Ninigret Park Dog Park Facility, subject to the approval of the Director of Parks and Recreation, the Town Administrator and the Town Council. Any such funds raised must be deposited with the Town's Finance Director's office to be placed in a special Ninigret Park Dog Park Facility escrow account from which expenditures may be made for the purposes for which any funds raised may be used. All expenditures from this fund shall comply with local and state purchasing statutes, ordinances, policies and practices and shall be subject to the appropriate approvals by town officials.

G. All records of Commission proceedings, minutes, resolutions and actions shall be public and forwarded to the Town Clerk's office.

§ 36-4 Duties of Commission.

A. The Commission shall advise the Director relative to planning, promoting and conducting recreational and cultural activities.

B. The Commission shall advise the Director relative to maintenance, acquisition and development of parks and recreational facilities.

C. The Commission shall advise the Director relative to fees and budgets for the recreational, cultural and park programs and facilities.

D. The Commission may make recommendations, through the Director, to the Administrator and Town Council concerning the aforesaid matters.

E. The Commission may, from time to time, create special purpose subcommittees comprised of its members. Subcommittees which include nonmembers of the Commission must be approved by the Town Council.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Former Subsection F, regarding the creation of the Ninigret Park Committee, as amended, which immediately followed this subsection, was repealed 7-8-2002 by Ord. No. 236.