MATTHEW BURNETTE, Staff Writer

The Manchester Recreation Commission approved a job description for a new Facility Manager position at the Manchester Recreation Center.

A Facility Manager would oversee the daily operations of the Recreation Center and would alleviate some of the Center’s scheduling and staffing issues.

The position would also allow the Director and Assistant Director of the Parks and Recreation Department to focus on the administrative work of the department.

“We’re tasked with the Parks and Recreation Department. We get called into the daily details of the Rec center, and it really keeps us from doing our entire job as well as we should,” explained Assistant Parks and Recreation Director Becki Johnson. “We spend an awful lot of time in tasks that we shouldn’t have to be dealing with.”

Johnson added that most recreation centers statewide have a person who oversees the center that isn’t the Director or Assistant Director of the entire department.

“We don’t get to spend a lot of time out in the parks,” said Parks and Recreation Director A.J. Fox. “We don’t get to get out there and actually walk through the parks and be able to put our eyes on fencing that needs repair… or be able to take the time to look and get quotes to plan budget wise to repair those items.”

Fox explained that the funding has been approved by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and $55,000 has been allotted as a yearly salary for the position.

The job description was approved unanimously 6-0 and will go before the Board for approval. If approved, the Parks and Recreation Department will begin the hiring process.