Quincy to hire recreation director

Official job posting to be decided Oct. 21

QUINCY - The Quincy City Council allowed staff to create a job listing for a recreation director.

The new position was created at the Sept. 16 meeting. The person would be responsible for handling recreational activities throughout the city, such as the Quincy Aquatic Center, tour buses and advertising for events.

This would free up the maintenance department to work on other projects.

The city talked about the position a few years ago, but there wasn't money available for it, Mayor Jim Hemberry said.

"I know in the last year there's been a lot of meetings that I've been at, and it seems that at a lot of times when we've felt, 'Well, there's a good job for the (recreation) director when we hire them,'" he said. "I think providing activities for the youth and the adults as well in this community is going to help … I think there's a lot of pluses myself."

Hemberry said the position would also help save money the city is spending contracting with community groups.

"One thing that will happen with this too. This past year, we contracted with the chamber (of commerce) and we'll have the (recreation) director do that." Hemberry said. "That's money we'll get back. We will save some money there.

Councilmember Keith Anstine said the money would be better spent on other items. He couldn't see how the city could afford to fund the position with the economic downturn in the country.

"This is not near and dear to my heart. It's pure fluff. It's a part-time job that we really can't afford," Anstine said. "If I had a choice between funding this and funding the police department, I would fund the lieutenant's position."

It may be possible to do both, Hemberry said. The decision on a new police lieutenant would have to wait until the budget process starts.

Councilmembers Rebecca Young and Scott Lybbert said they thought the benefits of the position outweighed the cost.

"I needed to call the (recreation) director the other day," Lybbert said. "I had these people call and they needed to know where their kids could go do this and this. They have three kids and they need activities."