City council leans toward hiring a park director

Jason Whitehead, the mayor’s chief of staff who’s served as the city’s “interim” park and recreation director for nearly four years without an increase in his salary, says there’s no need to fill that position on a permanent basis.

Whitehead told city council today that the cash-strapped city isn’t in a position to hire a full-time director with an annual base-pay salary of $55,000 to $62,000 with full medical-insurance coverage.

Whitehead went so far to say money would be better spent bringing back six part-time park employees laid off last year rather than hiring a director. Bringing back those workers, who make $8 an hour with no medical benefits, would cost about half the annual base-pay salary of a park and recreation director.

But council members disagreed with Whitehead.

“One problem in the city is youth violence and the lack of youth programs,” said Councilwoman Janet Tarpley, D-6th. “We need a full-time director. We need someone to focus on this.”

For the complete story, read Thursday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com