March 29, 2024

Seekonk Needs a Well-Functioning Parks & Rec Committee

Posted

Dear Reader,

My name is Joshua Troiano and I am a member of the Seekonk Parks and Recreation committee. I was appointed by the board of selectmen in the summer of 2021 and since then, have had the privilege to serve on the committee.

With almost two years under my belt, I have been able to learn more, and likewise see what needs to be changed in order to have an effective town government. Specifically, to have a well-functioning Parks & Rec committee, there needs to be support from the board of selectmen and town administrator, among other things.

When thinking of how to maximize the productivity of the committee, it’s important that the Parks & Rec director is a full-time position. Unfortunately, the position has been reduced to 19.5 hours per week. This has severely handicapped the committee's ability to work, because if the director happens to not have enough hours to complete important work, it cannot get done. Thus, we can only fully execute our job as members if our director happens to have enough hours left to work that week. If not, it has to be pushed into the next week, thus delaying the work and creating a slow, dysfunctional department.

Secondly, there should be more communication coming down from the board of selectmen and town administrator. Many times it appears that important things that pertain to the committee are changed, and are not communicated down to members of the committee. For example, members were surprised to find out, from a private citizen, that the Parks & Rec committee is no longer running the popular summer camp that is annually run. Sadly, this was not communicated from those who made the decision. Now, there may not be a summer camp.

Lastly, much of the department's minuscule budget goes to seeding, leaving minimal funds to assist leagues and fund critical projects. A common-sense, fiscally responsible increase in our operating budget would enhance our ability to do our job we were appointed for, not leave us in a futile state. There is much work to do, it’s just a matter of having the resources to fully maximize our potential.

After town meeting voted to purchase the Medeiros Family Farm property, there will be a future need to successfully develop the land to maximize its use. Additionally, there is a wide range of needs at different recreational fields and courts where renovation and construction are needed.

Therefore, in order to have a quality Parks & Rec Committee, there needs to be a full-time Parks & Rec Director, more communication from those at the head of town government, and a fair budget for the department that enables us to fulfill our mission statement.

If you are interested in attending a meeting, the times and dates are posted on the town website and the meeting minutes are as well. Additionally, there will be a revamp of our social media in the coming future to help us effectively communicate information out to the public. I look forward to assisting in the improvement and further development of recreation in town, working with league presidents, concerned citizens, and all residents of the town of Seekonk.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter!

God bless,
Joshua Troiano

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