Quincy to redesign recreation program

QUINCY — Quincy officials hope to have a redesigned recreation program by the end of the year.

QUINCY - Quincy officials hope to have a redesigned recreation program by the end of the year.

The decision came after the recreation director was terminated without cause.

Mayor Jim Hemberry announced he ended Recreation Director Chris Koeppel's contract at a recent city council meeting.

Koeppel was hired in May 2009 to fill the newly-created position.

Hemberry declined to comment on the cause of the termination during an interview.

The recreation and arts commission will create a plan for the city's recreation program.

"What I've done more or less, is suspend the rec program until we can kind of go back to the drawing board," he said at the meeting. "I went to the recreation and arts commission meeting, met with them and talked with them a little bit about the future of recreation for the City of Quincy."

The examination will include looking at the program's current state, whether the city will staff the director's position full time or part-time and the future of the program.

"I told them they have until the end of the year to get it done and have a recommendation to me so we can make sure to start it up again at the beginning of the year," he said. "I think they're actually going to look at trying to put together, if they can, some volunteers and try to do something on their own."

The group is looking to get representatives from the school district, the community center and at least one police officer, Hemberry said, adding he is looking at focusing on youth activities as a way to combat problems caused by juveniles.

"We need to have a rec program (and) not just for the health benefits of a rec program," he said. "I obviously believe we need to have an adult program. In kind of trying to put together a plan, we'll go to some other rec departments to find what's the best way to build this program."

One of the items the committee is examining is the costs of the program, Hemberry said, pointing at a recent $1.3 million sales tax refund.

"Right now, our operating budget is fine. We're spending our money wisely," he said. "Every department needs to take a hard look at what we need ... That's part of what generated the actions I took."

Hemberry doesn't feel the city rushed to fill the position, he said.

"I think it's better that we as a city and ... the commission decide what we want, rather than just handing it to someone and saying, ‘Create a rec program,'" he said.

The change won't effect the city's recreation activities or the city pool.