Waunakee votes to rename Community Services to Parks and Recreation and authorize director recruitment

The Waunakee Village Board approved staff’s recommendation to rename the Community Services Department to Parks and Recreation and authorized recruitment for a Parks and Recreation Director at grade S11 on the wage scale.

Todd, speaking remotely, said the change would reduce confusion about the department’s role, better reflect comparable positions in peer communities and help recruitment following the announced retirement of long-time director Sue McDade. "I am seeking two actions of the village board tonight: 1 action is to rename the community services department the parks and recreation department and the other would be to essentially create the position of parks and recreation director and place it on the wage scale appropriately," Todd said.

Staff presented a proposed timeline aiming to have a new director on board by mid-November; Todd said staff would include department staff and the parks and recreation committee in the recruitment and candidate-review process and that the final appointment rests with the full board. Trustees raised questions about where village-center operations and recplex rentals would sit organizationally; staff said those operations would remain within the renamed department and that a new director could review operational delegations after hire.

A trustee moved to approve the renaming and grade placement; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Todd said staff will advertise the position and return with candidates for board consideration in mid-October.

Next steps: staff to post the job, coordinate interview participation with trustees and aim to present a recommended candidate to the board in mid-October with onboarding in mid-November.