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Tonawanda council discusses parks staffing, stipend request and splash pad hours
Summary
Councilmembers discussed parks reorganization savings and a request to increase a stipend for Superintendent Fronczak from $5,000 to $15,000 for the remainder of the year; members asked staff to verify budget savings before approving additional compensation and agreed to try to keep the splash pad open through heat events despite pool closure.
Councilmembers spent a portion of the meeting reviewing recent Parks Department staffing changes, a compensation request and operational hours for summer facilities.
Council members reported that personnel shifts in the parks department produced salary-and-benefit savings. According to council discussion, Superintendent Fronczak requested a stipend of $15,000 in recognition of additional duties; the council had previously granted a $5,000 stipend and staff suggested approving an additional $10,000 for the remainder of the year would bring the total to the requested $15,000. Finance staff and council members said they needed to confirm the precise budget lines and realized savings before approving any additional compensation.
Separately, members discussed Kohler Pool—s seasonal closing in about two weeks because of lifeguard availability and considered keeping the adjacent splash pad open for residents. Councilmembers said the splash pad has the fencing and configuration to remain open and staff will coordinate with Parks and Police to set reduced or extended hours to protect public safety while providing access during heat spells.
Council directed staff to bring back verified numbers on budget savings and to coordinate with Parks and Police about splash-pad operations and lifeguard staffing if a longer season is proposed.
