Hilliard council approves youth tackle football program and multiple parks staffing changes

The Hilliard Town Council on April 2 approved a plan by Parks & Recreation to offer youth tackle football and confirmed several staff promotions and position changes for the department.

Parks & Recreation Director Gabe Whittenburg said the youth tackle football proposal has the support of the current league president and the Hilliard Middle-Senior High School coach; council asked when school teams and town programs would use the field and whether the county agreement was in place. Whittenburg said he is working with a county contact on the agreement and that Town Attorney Christian Waugh will review the contract language before it is finalized. Councilman Jared Wollitz specifically asked for an update on the Nassau County School Board agreement; the council approved the program with a recorded unanimous vote.

The council also approved personnel actions recommended by Whittenburg and other staff: promotion of Travis Pasters to Public Works Technician (Heavy Equipment Operator), promotion of Myron Saunders from part-time gym attendant to full-time gym attendant/programs coordinator, and promotion of Shelby Turner from part-time kid attendant to full-time event coordinator/social media coordinator. In separate action, the council approved hiring for the Town Hall Grant & Capital Projects Administrator position. Council President Kenny Sims said the job cannot be performed from home and opposed allowing 16 hours per week out of office; the council approved hiring the candidate identified as Hannah on a four 10-hour day schedule.

All personnel and programming motions were moved and passed in recorded votes. Attorney Christian Waugh will review any facility-use agreements with the county before staff finalize field-use arrangements.