Agenda Text
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Requesting approval of an Administrative Order relative to the establishment of a Parks and Recreation Department.
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Official Text
To the Honorable Board:
Pursuant to Section 37 of Chapter 400 of the Acts of 2012, which amended the Charter of the City of Somerville, I hereby introduce the attached administrative order which establishes, subject to your approval, a Parks and Recreation Department in the city of Somerville.
Section 37 of Chapter 400 of the Acts of 2012 allows the City of Somerville to pass, subject to approval of 2/3 of the Board of Aldermen, administrative orders that establish operating divisions for the orderly, efficient or convenient conduct of the business of the city. Administrative orders may provide for the combination, separation, creation or dissolution of departments, provided that all essential city functions are assigned to a department, board, commission or office.
Under Section 40A of the City Charter, the Department of Public Works is charged with the superintendence and management of public grounds and parks in the City of Somerville. Under this administrative order, maintenance of athletic playing fields will be assigned to the Parks and Recreation Department. Superintendence and maintenance of all other parks and open spaces in the City will remain the responsibility of the Department of Public Works.
The Recreation Department currently permits and oversees all athletic fields, but does not oversee the maintenance of those fields, which require more rigorous and specialized care than other parks and open spaces due to their high level of intensive athletic use. Under this administrative order, the Parks and Recreation Department will be tasked with full responsibility for care and maintenance of these fields, which they know more intimately than any other city department. This will allow for the City to provide more comprehensive care and management of these crucial assets.
The duties and functions of the Parks and Recreation Department described in the attached administrative order are intended to be read broadly and serve to illustrate but not to circumscribe the duties and responsibilities of the department under the charter, ordinances, and the general laws.
The Law Department has determined that if this order is approved, amendments to the following ordinance will be necessary to reflect that care, superintendence, and maintenance of athletic fields is no longer a responsibility of the Department of Public Works: Section 11-1.
The only additional costs associated with the approval of this order will be any increases to the compensation of the Director of Parks and Recreation, as approved by the Board of Aldermen, to reflect the increased responsibilities of the position.
My staff will be available to answer any questions you may have.
Respectfully submitted,
Joseph A. Curtatone, Mayor