SALISBURY, NB – A small New Brunswick village is in a dispute over who will run the community’s parks and recreation portfolio.
The Salisbury & District Recreation Council has been planning recreation and leisure programs for kids in the community for 25 years. The non-profit, volunteer based organization has always been funded by the village.
But now the village wants to take over and remove the long-time recreation council out of their offices.
“We’ve worked so hard to try to improve everything that we have going and for somebody to send you a letter and say you’re done,” said council president, Amanda Tingley. “Sick to my stomach is exactly how I felt.”
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Tingley said the council was sent a letter, signed by Salisbury Mayor Terry Keating, indicating the funding to the recreation council is being cut off in March.
“The village made the determination, and they have the right to set up a Recreation and Leisure department,” said Doug Duff, executive director for the council. “But it was without consultation with us and we are the people who have been doing that for the last 25 years.”
The town has paid an average of $40,000/year to fund the volunteer based recreation council. The motion to end that funding was passed by village council in Dec.
A letter on the village website states:
“At it’s Dec. 23, 2013 meeting, Salisbury Village Council, in keeping with the powers given to it by the New Brunswick Municipalities Act, adopted a motion to create the Parks & Leisure Department. Council had concluded that it is now the time to move towards an all encompassing and inclusive recreation program approach.”
The Salisbury & District Recreation Council said they’ve consulted a lawyer and is planning a public meeting in the village.
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