Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Senior Representation Parks Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wendell board backs adding two senior seats to Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission
Summary
After staff review, the Wendell board instructed staff to pursue Option 1: add two advisory seats aged 55+ to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission to represent the senior community rather than creating a standalone senior commission or retaining the old auxiliary board.
The Wendell Town Board of Commissioners directed staff to pursue a charter amendment that would add two seats for residents aged 55 and older to the existing Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission rather than reestablishing the former Eastern Wake Senior Center Auxiliary Board or creating a separate senior commission.
Assistant Manager Stephanie Smith summarized staff's comparative analysis of nearby jurisdictions and three options for senior representation following the town's July 2024 assumption of senior-center programming. "Option 1 would be to increase the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee by 2 members aged 55 and older to represent the senior community," Smith said. She listed pros as reduced staff burden and using an existing commission and cons as a possible perception among seniors of reduced standalone representation.
Smith described Option 2 as creating a standalone senior advisory commission (which would better match other municipalities but would require more staff resources) and Option 3 as retaining the former auxiliary board (which has no formal authority and has bylaws that conflict with town policy). Staff recommended Option 1, she said, and told the board any new seats would be filled through the town's usual commission recruitment process.
Board members asked questions about outreach to auxiliary-board members and about educating seniors on the change; Smith said staff planned to engage the existing auxiliary group and explain the new structure. One commissioner suggested preserving social opportunities for seniors through programming even if the advisory structure changed.
The board moved and approved Option 1 by voice vote. Staff will return with an amended charter showing the two additional seats and incorporate the appointments into the next recruitment cycle for board and commission vacancies.
