Burrillville Extended Care (BEC)
Board of Directors
Minutes
October 3, 2011
Called to Order and Attendance/Review Agenda:
- Meeting called to order-by Judy Lopez-Recinos at 6/31p.m.
- Members Present-Dr. David VanDyke; Juliette Lopez-Recinos; Newt Stevens; Jennifer Briere; Cheri R. Hall, Parks & Recreation Director and Council Liaison Kevin Heitke, Esq.
- Members Absent- N/A
- Members Excused- N/A
- Guests- Michael C. Wood, Town Manager; Laura Fontaine, Program Parent
Minutes of the June 6, 2011 and September 6, 2011 regular meeting to be accepted:
Motion to accept the minutes of the June 6, 2011 meeting made by Jennifer Briere, Second by Newt Stevens. Motion carried 4-0.
Motion to accept the minutes of the September 6, 2011 meeting made by Newt Stevens and Second by Jennifer Briere. Motion carried 4-0.
Welcome:
The Chair welcomed the Town Manager and Laura Fontaine to the meeting.
Correspondence:
None
Good and Welfare:
The Parks & Recreation Director shared with the Board the special events that the staff has planned for the coming weeks. Flyers were passed for the child care being offered during the parent teacher conferences to be held at Callahan on October 20, and at Levy School on November 10.
Additionally, the children will have the opportunity to build spooky houses with their parents on the evening of October 26, 2011. This program is offered only to families registered with BEC for this year. Consideration may be given to open it up to the public in subsequent years.
Old Business:
None
New Business:
Recommended proposal of restructuring the full time staff of the Burrillville Extended Program:
The Chair recognized Michael C. Wood, Town Manager. The Town Manager explained the interim steps of recommending the promotion of Kelly Cournoyer and Lisa Nault, Program Site Coordinators/Co-Directors to: Kelly Cournoyer as Director of BEC and Lisa Nault, Assistant Director. This would be an interim move while the Director of Parks & Recreation is still on board to guide the BEC staff in taking over the management roles of the program. The Town Manager stated that he has met with the Parks & Recreation Director on a number of occasions to discuss the program and she has submitted new job descriptions for the positions being recommended. This will allow the town to consider other options if needed in reference to the department, as we anticipate the Director’s retirement
next year.
The Director shared with the Board that she supports the changes being recommended and has been giving more and more of the management responsibilities over to Kelly and Lisa in the last several years. It is important to me that the program can and will continue. She is confident that the staff is ready to move ahead with guidance over the next several months of the remainder of the responsibilities and role of the Director, including the budget process.
Stevens stated his concern about the BEC funds being consumed as the intention to find a stand-alone building for the program is a consideration and assumed still on the table. He spoke of the importance of funds enough in the account in anticipation of this. Kevin Heike spoke about the advantages of being in the schools, including the purchase or hiring of a bus that would be needed if the schools were not utilized. The Director shared with the Board that many of the activities for the children would not be possible if the program was to be supporting a building on its own. As long as the space is available in the schools the program should continue as is. All agreed, however that their needs to be a contingency fund for the program. Jennifer Briere stated that she liked the fact that her
son only had to go downstairs at school.
The question was asked about the wages for the interim move and the difference that this will mean to the revenues of the program. The Town Manager stated that implementing the changes in the next four to six weeks would cost approximately half of what the cost for the entire year. The Director stated the recommended amount in wages would be increased by $7,000 annually; however, the program would most likely no longer need to support the wages of the Parks & Recreation Director or the administrative staff, which has been $33,000 annually. The role the administrative aide for the department now carries is only the posting of agendas and meeting minutes on the town web site and with the Secretary of State. The Office Manager for BEC is currently being trained to take over
these responsibilities. Lisa Nault has assumed taking the minutes over the last several meetings.
The Chair asked what effect the anticipated changes would have on the current Board and the Town Manager explained that currently the only change would be that Kelly and Lisa would be assuming the duties of the current Parks & Recreation Director. He asked the Board to assist in monitoring the leadership role Kelly and Lisa would be assuming in the coming months. This is a good time to evaluate this move, especially as the new budget process begins.
Board members Jennifer Briere and Newt Stevens, who represent parents on the board commended the staff and recognized the value that the program brings to the Burrillville community. Kelly and Lisa have always done a great job and the children love them. Prospective new member Laura Fontaine also voiced how much her son loves to go to BEC.
The Town Manager thanked the Board for their support. The Chair asked the Board if they were ready to vote on the issue. Newt Stevens made the motion for the Director of Parks and Recreation working with the Town Manager to move forward with the recommended leadership changes for the Burrillville Extended Care Program. Second by Jennifer Briere. Motion carried 4-0.
Meeting adjourned: Motion to adjourn at 7:10 p.m. by Jennifer Briere and
Seconded by Dr. David VanDyke. Motion carried 4-0.
Next Meeting: Monday, December 5, 2011, 6:30 p.m., Burrillville Parks &
Recreation Offices; 92 North Main Street, Pascoag, R.I.
Recorded by
Cheri R. Hall, Director
Burrillville Parks & Recreation Department
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