Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Operations Custodial topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board directs refunds after custodians failed to appear for paid park events; seeks operations review
Summary
The board approved credits and refunds for at least two applicants whose paid events proceeded without scheduled custodial staffing, and members asked staff to investigate recurring no‑show custodian incidents and fix scheduling gaps.
The Lowell parks board approved refunds or credits on Wednesday after hearing complaints that scheduled custodians did not appear for paid park events.
Catherine Apollo told the board a custodian had not arrived for her recently held event and asked for a credit; the board voted to credit her account. The board also discussed at least one other recent instance in which a paid custodial service did not appear and agreed to ask parks administration to review custodial scheduling and ensure supervisors assign staff when permittees pay for the service.
Board members said the problem is both embarrassing to permit holders and unfair to people who pay for services that then are not provided. The board instructed staff to confirm which custodial requests require an on‑site employee and to ensure the staffing assignments are honored or the applicant receives a credit or refund.
Members said if custodial coverage requires extra hours, permittees must cover a minimum four‑hour custodian pay when the department is asked to bring someone in on a weekend. Staff said they will coordinate with the department superintendent and the parks administration to tighten scheduling protocols and to notify permittees before their events if custodial staff cannot be assigned.
The board voted to credit the applicant’s account for the missing service and to direct staff to report back on staffing procedures at the next meeting.
