Each 3rd Tuesday of the month the Scottsboro Parks and Recreation Board, better known as the Goose Pond Colony (GPC) Park Board meets to discuss business. I have been attending these meetings regularly for the past 4 months and have attended off and on during the last year. Last night there were 25 citizens in attendance, there were no hired journalists present. It seems the "press" is avoiding the meetings of the Park Board like the plague. Maybe they think the meetings are not news worthy or maybe they do not want to report on the truth of events at the park. Whatever the reason, I think it is very peculiar that the local press does not cover this municipal corporations meetings, thier choice, but when problems occur that effect the citizens of Scottsboro it is a shame our local media is not there to cover this situation, now on to the report.
Old Business: Marina courtesy vehicle discussion. It was decided that the marina courtesy vehicle for marina occupants must be signed out through the Marina Managers Office or Park Office.
New Business: 1) General Managers Resignation Letter was read and approved by the full board. Mr. Barry Chandler, General Manager resigned effective 31Nov. 2007. 2) A salary continuation (severance pay) was approved and signed off on by The Board President and Board Attorney. The "continuation of pay," as the President and Attorney calls it, was approved for Mr Chandler until May 2008, 6 months. The GPC Board President commented that Mr. Chandler served in an admiral fashion during his tenure at Goose Pond. 3) Board Members were assigned as "liaison members" to the various departments, cabins, camp grounds, golf course, marina, administrative office. It was stated that this was accomplished not for the board members to participate in management of the facility but to assist in communications to the board in the absence of a General Manager. It seems the "liaisons" were appointed in lieu of appointing an interim general manager. 4) Job Description for the General Manager is in Draft form and will be approved at the next meeting. There was no previous formal job description or formal contract for the General Managers position. 5) Advertising of the General Managers position was discussed and a committee was appointed to oversee this task. 6) Winter Golf rates discussion. 7) Special Projects Review and discussion. 8)Audit Review and progress report. 9) November Financial Report. 10) Resolution for approving check writing on GPC's accounts. All Board Members were placed on the document along with the Administrative Officer. 2 signatures are necessary for the GPC entity to write checks to pay their bills. 11) Reports from Department Heads. 12) Citizen presentations. There were 25 citizens in attendance last night. Most were concerned over conditions and uncertainty in the camp ground to include pending rules. 7 citizens spoke to the board expressing their concerns about the camp ground. One concerned citizen spoke concerning an incident that occured of a person falling into an open sewage septic tank in the camp ground. It was stated that this individual received several cuts and scrapes due to this accident. It was also stated that the person injured is receiving medical treatment due to recurring skin infections, the injured will receive an AIDS test in approximately 6 months. The citizen stated the board will be hearing more about this in approximately 2 months. I spoke to the board concerning my concerns over abuse of boards power, Open Meetings of the Board and the relationship to the severance pay for the past General Manager and abuse of individual board members authority to grant the "continuation of pay." The GPC Board attorney made comment that he did not agree with my view of this situation. I will be writing more about my concerns over management of GPC in a separate story in the near future.