Resident and board discuss creating full‑time parks and maintenance position to address deferred work

Simon Parish, a resident who previously served on the Dog River Park committee, told the Northfield Town budget review he had written a job description for a full‑time position to oversee parks and recreation. “I wrote a job description for a full time position that would oversee parks and recreation,” Parish said, and offered to share it with the interim manager and board.

Board members and staff discussed that one current highway‑crew employee’s salary is split 50/50 between Grounds & Parks and Highway, with overtime coded to the function worked. Staff explained the base salary is divided evenly but overtime is charged to the activity performed. Several board members said that split arrangement contributes to missed maintenance, especially in winter when highway work can pull personnel away from town properties.

Members described recurring examples of deferred maintenance — slippery library steps, overflowing park trash, and lawn and sign upkeep — and suggested a dedicated year‑round employee could improve responsiveness and reduce long‑term costs. An unidentified board member summarized the concern as a tradeoff between short‑term savings and long‑term deferred maintenance costs.

The board asked the interim manager and staff to draft a proposed job description and cost estimate for inclusion in the next budget cycle. One member volunteered to meet with Parish and the pool director to assemble additional details and recommended the manager consult department heads on likely duties and compensation. The board did not take a final funding vote on the position that night.

Next steps: staff was asked to develop a proposed job description and a budget estimate for the board to consider in a follow‑up meeting; Parish agreed to share his draft with the interim manager.