(3/12) The Thurmont Town Council at their March 3 meeting to accept a recommended responsibilities and duties outline for the previously disbanded Parks & Recreation Commission (PRC), and agreed to advertise for volunteers.

Additionally, the Council previously approved a circa $40,000 bid at their February 18 meeting to repair and replace Community Park equipment.

James Humerick, chief administrative officer, drafted a proposed list of PRC authorities and responsibilities for consideration at the Council's March 3 meeting, "so we could move in the direction of getting the Parks & Recreation Commission as a fully-functioning commission again."

Humerick said the PRC had been disbanded "three to four years ago." The commission became defunct due to the lack of individuals volunteering to serve on the board, an issue which then resulted in the commissioners opening-up membership to include non-residents. However, even that did not save the PRC.

PRC interest seemed to fall off when the commission assumed the responsibility of scheduling the ball parks, which town staff subsequently had to take over. Mayor John Kinnaird noted, "That's not on the (proposed) list of duties."

The approved guidance document stated the mission of the parks’ board would be to advise the chief administrative officer and the board of commissions "on the proposed development of park facilities and recreational programming for parks, playgrounds, athletic fields and other recreational activities provided by the Town of Thurmont and/or their partners."

Duties the guidance document established, included:

• Reviewing plans for park development and providing comments
• Providing proposed projects for budget consideration
• Providing recommendations for grant funding opportunities
• Proposing the creation and implementation of new parks and programs
• Proposing new park facilities and amenities
• Reviewing current park rules and regulations and making recommendations for revisions, and
• Volunteering at park activities and events.

The commission will continue to be comprised of five members serving for four years, as was the case in the former commission.

The Commissioners approved placing an advertisement, seeking volunteers.

Previously, the commissioners approved a $39,789 bid at their February 18 meeting to repair and replace playground equipment located in Community Park.

Humerick said some of the equipment in need of "critical and needed replacements and repairs" is up to three decades old. The town received a $40,000 grant from the Maryland Program Open Space.

However, 25 per-cent, or $10,000, of the $40,000 must be provided by the town. The town's share would be coming from the town’s budget reserve fund. Playground Specialists, Thurmont, was identified as the company who submitted the winning bid.

Repairs and replacements should be completed by spring.