(Atlantic) The Atlantic City Council, voted 6-1 to dissolve the Parks and Recreation board on Wednesday. Linda Hartkopf, Fourth Ward City Councilperson, voted against the dissolution, referencing the feedback from her constituency.
Atlantic Mayor Grace Garrett read an email with a petition against dissolving the Parks and Rec. Board.
The Council’s vote on Wednesday followed a Public Hearing on the issue on August 2. Councilman Pat McCurdy motioned to dissolve the Board on the first reading.
The council passed the first reading of ordinance #1039, discontinuing the Parks and Recreation Board and deleting Chamber 23 “Park and Recreation Board on the first reading, voted to waive the second and third readings, and made it official.
The next order of business was the first reading establishing a Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission. The Council passed the first reading by unanimous vote. Councilperson Elaine Otte says the proposed Advisory Commission would be a good addition.
The Purpose of the Advisory Commission would be to advise the City Council on the needed facilities to provide open spaces such as Parks, Playgrounds, Pools, Splashpads, and community facilities for other recreation.
The City Council will vote on the second reading at the September 19 meeting. If this passes on the third and final reading, a commission appointed by the mayor and approved by the majority of the City Council would consist of five individuals: three within the Atlantic City limits, two Cass County residents, and one non-voting High School student. The terms would start out as three one-year and two-year terms, with the members having no term limits. One year later, everyone will be on two-year terms.
