[Adopted 6-25-1990 by Ord. No. 90-3402B[1] (Ch. 5, Art. III, of the 1986 Code)]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Art. III, Recreation Commission, adopted as Secs. 11-2 through 11-8 of the 1965 Code.
A Parks and Recreation Commission, in accordance with the General Laws of the Commonwealth and the Charter of the City, is hereby established.
[Amended 8-20-1990 by Ord. No. 90-3556; 6-22-1992 by Ord. No. 92-4556A; 6-29-1998 by Ord. No. 98-7503B]
A. 
All employees classified under Chapter 31 of the General Laws are hereby transferred to the Department of Public Works without impairment of their civil service, retirement, personal leave, or seniority rights. Seniority of such employees shall remain unchanged pursuant to the provisions of MGL c. 31, § 33.
B. 
All property, records and any other data of the former Parks Division, which was transferred to the Commission pursuant to this section as provided by Ord. No. 90-3402B, shall be transferred to the Department of Public Works.
[Amended 10-24-1994 by Ord. No. 94-5703A; 6-29-1998 by Ord. No. 98-7503B]
The Parks and Recreation Commission shall consist of seven members to be appointed by the Mayor, subject to confirmation by the City Council. The Mayor shall initially appoint two members for one year, two members for two years and three members for three years, and annually thereafter, the Mayor shall appoint said members for three-year terms from the time of their appointment or until their successors are qualified.
[Amended 10-24-1994 by Ord. No. 94-5703A]
The Mayor shall designate a member of said Commission to serve as Chairperson for a two-year period, effective upon said designation and until a new Chairperson is designated.
It shall be the duty of the Commission to manage, direct, equip and care for playgrounds and all areas known as "parks," "playfields," "commons" or "recreation centers," including any buildings that may be erected thereon and in and upon the same, to promote and carry on recreational and parks activities. The Commission shall also have and exercise all other powers incident to its duties as are contained in the Chapter 45 of the General Laws.
The Commission shall have power to organize and conduct its business under such rules and regulations as it may deem proper, provided that the same are not inconsistent with the laws of the commonwealth or the Charter and ordinances of the City. It may adopt all reasonable regulations regarding the use of the land and buildings under its permanent or temporary control.
A. 
The Commission shall, by majority vote, appoint for a term of three years a Director for said Commission. Said Commission may also appoint a Temporary Director for not more than one year.
B. 
Powers and duties of Director. The Director shall be the supervisory and administrative head of the Parks and Recreation Commission. The Director shall regulate and coordinate all functions reasonably related to the duties and responsibilities of the Parks and Recreation Commission as herein transferred to the Commission and as assigned by the Commission, as the City Council may from time to time by ordinance provide, any other provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding. The Director shall report directly to the Parks and Recreation Commission.
[Amended 6-29-1998 by Ord. No. 98-7503B]
Any member of the Commission may be removed before the expiration of the member's term pursuant to Division I, Sec. 61 of the City Charter.
All vacancies in the Parks and Recreation Commission caused by death, resignation or otherwise shall be filled by the Mayor in the manner provided for an original appointment, and the person appointed shall hold office for the residue of the unexpired term.
Such Commissioners shall serve without compensation.
The various departments of the City shall render such service to the Commission as they may be required to perform by the City Council from time to time.
A. 
The Commission may employ and define the duties of a program manager, supervisor and other personnel and, in its discretion, remove such assistants, play leaders, teachers and other employees as may be necessary for the efficient administration of its duties, all of whom shall be compensated out of the annual appropriations. Said appointments and removals shall be subject to applicable state statutes and City codes.
[Amended 6-29-1998 by Ord. No. 98-7503B]
B. 
Notwithstanding the provisions of the first subsection of this section, the Mayor shall be the appointing authority for all employees classified under Chapter 31 of the General Laws and all employees subject to a collective bargaining unit.
[Added 11-4-1996 by Ord. No. 96-6768A]
A separate appropriation shall be made annually by the Mayor and City Council for the Parks and Recreation Commission, which appropriation may be expended in the conduct of the aforesaid purposes either on the land or in the buildings under its immediate control or on such land under the control of the City as the City shall permit the use of, as well as also in such buildings under the control of the School Committee as such School Committee may permit the use of. Similar expenditures may be made in and upon land and buildings as may be leased or offered to the Parks and Recreation Commission by private persons or corporations.
The Parks and Recreation Commission shall, at least once a year, render a report of its administration to the City Council and shall render such further reports as may be required of it by the City Council from time to time. It shall annually prepare a statement of suggestions to the Mayor and transmit to him an estimate of the amount of money needed to carry on the department for the ensuing year.
Such Commissioners shall meet immediately after their appointment and confirmation and elect one of their members who shall act as Clerk and who shall keep a record of their proceedings; in each year thereafter, such Commission shall meet in the month of February for the election of the Clerk. Such Commission shall vote to determine the time and place of other meetings.