As is typical of that type of organized public rally, the speakers spoke in a coordinated fashion, zeroing in almost exclusively on the same three messages: 1) safety; 2) maximizing participation in recreation programs; and 3) making the park enjoyable for residents and guests.
That certainly fit within what Mayor Coleman said he expected Recreation Director David Ianiro and P&R to accomplish: “bringing more people to the park” and “growing (recreation) programs” for the city.
After listening to the speakers, an additional, albeit unarticulated, goal was also clearly at play: bragging rights. All of the involved individuals clearly wanted to be able to claim, at the end of the day, that the city offered the best programs and best park facilities in the area, bar none.
It is quite apparent that costs, budgets and financial realities have not been an important part of the environment in which David Ianiro and P&R have operated over the last six years.
It is also apparent that they have not adjusted their mindset, even as the economic environment has changed around them. This is most clearly evidenced by two things: 1) their continuing insistence (even during last week’s council meeting) that council spend $ 300,000 in general funds to renovate the old pool house building to support a consistently money-losing 8 week day camp program that relatively few Highland Heights families participate in; and 2) their significant deficit spending in 2009.
It is even more remarkable that David Ianiro and P&R pursued a path of deficit spending last year given that they had been warned by the city’s Finance Director Tony Ianiro that the city’s property tax collections (which directly impact the P&R budget) were decreasing and given that surrounding communities had already begun closing pools and readjusting their own recreation programs in response to the deep economic recession (some people call it a depression) that we are currently experiencing.
I was particularly struck by what one P&R members told council during the Jan. 12th meeting:
“…Tightening our belt, that’s such a difficult thing.”
I sympathize. I really do.
Having to live within a budget is a real drag.
Not having unlimited financial resources at your disposal, to spend at will, is a real drag.
It’s a lot more fun----and so much easier to achieve goals (and bragging rights)---when you can spend money without giving a thought or care as to where the money is coming from, who is paying for it, and whether it is in limited supply.
But we’re in a recession.
“…Tightening our belt, that’s such a difficult thing”.... ?
Well, P&R---Welcome to the Club.
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