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Minutes of a Meeting of the North Olmsted Parks and Recreation Commission September 12, 2005 recreation, and basically, when people ask what the Rec Center is doing with that money, we’re still paying for the hockey roof. Mr. Lasko said that Mr. Baxter raised an excellent point, but it comes back to the Schools having the issue on the ballot in November, which will be decided by the public in terms of what the public wants as far as capital and improvements or facilities for the schools. If you look at the proposal, there is a significant recreational element that the schools have brought forward, whether it’s for the property at the current Middle and High School are or the property at Pine. It’s all conceptual; but if it’s realized, it will benefit not only the schools but the community as a whole in terms of providing recreational opportunity. If we look at other surrounding communities, whether it’s Fairview Park, which just passed its Gemini Project as a significant recreational element; if you look at Rocky River and its renovated recreational facilities at the High School which was done in partnership with the City because of the City’s use of the High School Field for its Rec League Football; if you look at what Rocky River did at its municipal pool complex and other areas and we look at other recreational facilities that have been built, whether it’s Seven Hills or Independence, ultimately it will come down to what the community wants and is willing to pay for in terms of its perception and its belief in how they place these things and how they value them. Budget Mr. Kelley asked if there were any more questions for the Recreation Commissioner. Mr. Baxter didn’t realize if it was the obligation of the Rec Commission to talk about the profits of the Rec Commission, but certainly in recent months the Commissioner stopped passing out copies of the budget. Mr. Baxter did not know whether that is part of the Commission’s charter, but he would like to get better information. Mr. DiSalvo said that there have been more adjustments with the new system, almost on a monthly basis. By the times the numbers are presented to the Rec Commission, they are not correct. It’s not even worth the time to go over the figures. The Rec has made $20,000 to $30,000 in transfers to make sure the money is placed in the right account lines. To summarize, last year the Rec had general accounts; this year, it’s extremely specific. Instead of “Building Supply and Maintenance” now it’s down to, “Paint, Gas and Oil., etc.” It’s taking a long time. These are the growing pains we’re going through. What the Commissioner can do is report numbers, but they will probably be two or three months of the previous months. He thought he could do it right up to the present date; this year it’s impossible. It’s just the way of the new system. Mr. Baxter hopes that somebody’s on top of it. Mr. DiSalvo said that, speaking of finances, with the Rec’s cap allotment of appropriations, he thought the Rec Department started out at $60,000; at least $20,000 of what was appropriated for cap improvements has been transferred to the budget to cover unexpected emergencies such as the main water line bursting last year; this year both our pool problems. A lot of our capital money does not go to capital improvements; it goes towards unexpected or emergency repairs. The money is there, but that’s why the Rec sees very little improvement within; it’s staying status quo. With the General Fund being cut, the Rec just does not have that income any more. One of these years, if there were no emergencies, there would be a lot more accomplished. That is why Page 12