Ontario Council heats up over hiring Ontario Youth Sports to serve as rec depart. director

ONTARIO ― The Ontario Council meeting Wednesday night became heated over an "extremely vague" contract to hire Ontario Youth Sports, a nonprofit agency, to fill the job of Ontario Recreation Department director at $48,000 a year on a contractual basis, effective immediately.

Mary Ann Hellinger, the city's auditor, told council during the public commentary section of the meeting that there was not enough money in the recreation department fund if members voted to approve the contract Wednesday night.

She said she was just doing her job if there's not enough money in the fund, she's not signing it.

Hellinger said the contract did not specify in writing the duties of Ontario Youth Sports or any details about existing Ontario Recreation Department community programs and if they would be continued, including the Easter Egg Hunt, the Summer Recreation Department program or the Christmas craft show.

City auditor cites lack of details on contract

She said she was concerned about public tax dollars going to the nonprofit without any written details in the contract, calling the contract "extremely vague."

"The only thing that is clear in here is the amount of money the city is going to pay. There are no (written) duties, no obligations which is normally the object of having an agreement and a contract is so parties know their rights, obligations and expectations between the parties," Hellinger said. "... There is nothing on this agreement going forward."

She asked if the city would continue to purchase supplies for community events for the recreation department.

Councilman Dave Rehfeldt said no, the city would no longer purchase supplies. He clarified that earlier in the evening he said the contract needed to be fixed or amended.

Hellinger said the city's goal for the past 10 years has always been for the recreation department to be as self sufficient as it can be.

City has been reducing recreation department subsidy

"We have reduced the general fund subsidy from $30,000 when we started down to $10,000. Now with this agreement we are, in essence, increasing the subsidy of the general fund from $10,000 to $100,000," she said.

She said there is $60,000 in the recreation department fund and that $48,000 would have to be transferred to pay for the recreation director position.

Hellinger said the past recreation director brought in revenue.

Rehfeldt said he anticipates the OYS will bring substantial revenue to the city in three years.

By night's end, Rehfeldt became a bit testy, telling Hellinger she should have addressed these concerns outside the council meeting setting.

Hellinger said she had not been invited into the discussion and brought it up at the only opportunity she had in the best interest of the city to make sure she is doing her job.

Taking to the podium, Ontario resident Craig Hunt, who attends virtually all council meetings, asked why vehicles are allowed to park on the grass at Marshall Park without being ticketed by Ontario police, especially during softball tournaments.

"It needs to be enforced," said Hunt.

Hunt said he lives close enough to Marshall Park he can hear the crowds from tournament ballgames.

Hunt asked council, "Is Marshall Park Ontario citizens' park or Ontario Youth Sports' park to do as they wish?"

Rehfeldt said, "You know the answer to that. Why did you ask the question?"

Hunt said many in the community have been asking the same question.

"It's just getting to be, I ask questions and 'we have to ask Kenn.' ... Is it Kenn's park? Is it our park? Whose park is it?" Hunt said. "I mean Kenn (Spencer, OYS director) does a great job. Don't get me wrong, I like Kenn...."

Mayor Randy Hutchinson said more parking will be added to the ballfields area next year.

Hunt said the city doesn't need more parking in Marshall Park but fewer teams renting the park for weekend events.

After all the back and forth, council voted down putting the contract agreement with OYS to a vote Wednesday. Rehfeldt said a vote could be taken as early as the next week.

Council president sums up next steps

Council President Ed Gallo said the OYS contract should be buttoned up to the degree it should be from a legal side and from an information side and council members will perform due diligence and go over it so all parties can move forward as a group and as a community with everybody's best interest at heart..

"And no questions lingering and no perception that we tried to push this through hastily," Gallo said.

lwhitmir@gannett.com

419-521-7223

Twitter: @lwhitmir

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Council may pay OYS $48,000 a year to run recreation community events