10/6/2003 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Recreation Commission Meeting October 6, 2003 it so, fine. Mr. Gareau asked to contact the parents for an evaluation of the program for hours, price, and day care. Mr. DiSalvo asked if there was a license needed for hours from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Ms. Hayes said that the State needs to be contacted for this information. Mr. DiSalvo continued that the people hired for the program this past year were people interested in furthering their education towards working with children. Next year there will be one supervisor with a higher salary rather than three at the $13.00 an hour. Concession Mr. DiSalvo believes that nothing will change with concession unless there is a brand new staff or it was contracted out to control theft. The Commissioner knows for a fact that half the food leaving the concession is not paid. All the employees think it's a right. Even the people who work concession may have one meal free, for which the Commission does not agree. They get paid $5.50 an hour, and there's a bonus of an hour through a meal. Sometimes they only work three hours, the Rec gave them an extra $5 for their meal, and the Rec gave their friend $5 for a meal. Mr. DiSalvo sees concession as an employee convenience only. Mr. Kelley asked if someone would come in as concessionaire to upgrade the facility; would it be our equipment or his? Mr. Jesse said that would be subject to negotiation. Mr. Gareau said that if it's not working the way it's working now, he would be open to any suggestion. Mr. DiSalvo said that 24-7, it's open game in the concession area; anything can happen, and suggested that a camera be put in place. Mr. Gareau agreed with that suggestion, saying that if the Rec has reason to believe theft is happening and that the Rec wants to account for the money, it should be put into place for security purposes. Theft happened at Springvale two years ago, only on a bigger scale. Mr. Jesse said that Springvale is not completely tight with security yet but is a great deal tighter than before. Mr. DiSalvo said that probably every employee has a key to the concession stand as well and, until it's re-keyed, access to the concession will be a problem. (Overlapping conversation about what other communities do and how many hours would be needed to oversee concession.) Mr. Baxter said that if someone at Burger King or Marc's was caught stealing, he or she would be terminated. What's wrong with termination, getting new people, and laying down the law? Mr. DiSalvo said that it's feasible; only right now, with wages, it's hard to staff concession. Mr. Jesse said that there is no procedure in place to control from the point of sale. As soon as that procedure would be implemented, there would be a huge backlash. The Rec would be required to change staff and the system at the same time. The easiest solution would be to subcontract. Mr. Gareau said the cost would be exhorbitant, since the Rec Center is not flush for cash. There is a problem that should be addressed immediately to try to stop theft, but it must be done at cost- effective means. The most cost effective means is to put a video camera on the wall while someone is working the cash register so that they think someone is on the other side of the camera somewhere in the building. Mr. DiSalvo said the kids working concession range from 15 to 18 years old. They don't think of it as theft. The idea that food has value is gone when someone is working and expects a free meal. Ms. Jones asked if a stop could be put in place as far as employee theft. Mr. DiSalvo said that the concession is open for them. One person does inventory. Mr. Gareau said that, because it's so out of control, start looking at outside sources and let it be their problem. Why should we spend $15,000 on a point of sale system to try to Page 10