Politics & Government
2 Parks and Rec Board Members Resign
Charlotte Gardner and Cindy Mills announced their resignation at Tuesday's Parks and Recreation board meeting. Two days later, however, Gardner said she may continue through July.
Chairman Charlotte Gardner and Cindy Mills, two long-serving members of the Forsyth County Parks and Recreation Board, announced their departure from the board at Tuesday's meeting.
By Thursday, however, Gardner was ready to reconsider. A member of the board since 2005, she was first appointed by former Commissioner Jack Conway and reappointed by commissioners Jim Harrell and Todd Levent. She currently lives in Commissioner Patrick Bell's district and Bell has expressed a desire to see her continue on the board, as has Levent.
"I could stay on until July if that's their desire," Gardner said Thursday.
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That wasn't the case with Mills, however, whose disagreements with Bell have been made public on her facebook group "Focus on Forsyth." Mills strongly opposed for elected officials and , both of which Bell supported.
Tuesday's meeting was the first time the board has met since learning it currently has the final say on who can use county park facilities and when.
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Until last week, Parks and Recreation Director Jerry Kinsey, county commissioners and the five Parks and Recreation board members all believed the board was established as an advisory board, appointed only to make policy recommendations to elected officials.
But, during last week's county commission work session, county attorney Ken Jarrard informed commissioners that the authority to create policies, rules and regulations for field use rests solely with the parks and recreation board. Under the current ordinance, the Board of Commissioners is powerless to override the board's decisions.
That will change, however. Commissioners voted 5-0 to hold public hearings early next year, to change the ordinance and make the Parks and Recreation Board an advisory board.
In other business, the board reviewed the master recreation plan for 2012-'17 which is updated every five years with respect to the type, number and location of future parks, facilities and programs.
Board members unanimously approved a prioritized list of guidelines for naming future parks by community will take precedence over naming by road, direction or landmark. Donated land and sponsorship could also be sources for naming.
Recommended names for two southern green space sites votes. The board suggested naming the Echols property Haw Creek Park and the Harrison Property Caney Creek Preserve.
