At the June 5 Parks and Recreation Commission’s meeting, Bob O’Shea, outgoing chairman and interim recreation director, worked with the remaining three members to establish temporary roles until a full board can meet with incoming director Anne McWaters. O’Shea and member Mark Morin will be leaving the commission June 19.
In a discussion on what the recreation director job entails, O’Shea told the commission that the responsibilities of treasurer and scribe have been reallocated to McWaters. This leaves the positions of beach liaison and Community Preservation Committee (CPC) liaison unfilled and also that of commission chair.
In a discussion, members agreed about who would temporarily occupy each position until the two openings on the commission are filled.
Sam Levine volunteered to be the commission chair, replacing O’Shea. He will be in charge of scheduling and creating meeting agendas, sending them to the town clerk for posting, being involved with the town budget process, and writing summary reports of what the commission has accomplished. Marisa Steele will temporarily take on the Community Preservation Committee liaison role until new members join the commission, when roles may be reassigned.
Matthew Benway volunteered to be the new beach liaison. Benway explained that he chose this position because of his proximity to the beach and his familiarity with McWaters. ”I know Anne pretty well because she coaches varsity basketball and I’m probably going to coach junior varsity next year. And I’m right here.” As chair he will be tasked with renewing the town beach’s lease to Bare Hill Rowing Association, working with the beach director and the rec director on beach programs, and other responsibilities that will be decided later. Like many roles, the liaison positions on the commission will change when the recreation director arrives. All of these changes were approved by unanimous vote.
When O’Shea’s term as interim director expires June 30, he will continue to be available to work with McWaters, the future recreation director, to help her prepare for the position, which she assumes Aug. 28. Speaking about his departure from the commission, O’Shea said he will still be involved. “And just to let you know, I don’t go away. Because even after the rec director starts, I’ve been the harbormaster and I kind of attend these meetings here and there for the last 15 years. So, I’ll still be around.”
After both O’Shea and Morin exit, there will be only three remaining members. The commission is searching for volunteers to fill two open seats on the commission. If interested, potential candidates can call Town Hall for more information or fill out a volunteer form from the town website. To hold their twice-monthly meetings, the commission needs three people present for a quorum. “So that means that if one of us can’t make a meeting, we can’t really do anything or make any decisions because there’s the three of us, ” Levine said in the meeting.
When new members do join, the roles of commissioners and their assignments will continue to change. “Anytime a new member comes or leaves, the opportunity to have this role is on the agenda because it revisits who’s doing what,” O’Shea explained.
