Essex Junction Recreation and Parks

EJSD is required to respond to the Village's legal motion regarding its request for an injunction by March 21. It is not clear what the ramifications will be regarding EJRP programming as of July 1 should the injunction be approved. Regardless, EJSD will continue to move forward with its responsibilities in not only defending itself with regard to the Village's legal action, but also in continuing with its responsibilities associated with operating and administering EJRP.

"We have yet to hear from the Board of Trustees regarding their requested injunction and its plans with respect to the property as of July 1," Superintendent Michael Deweese said. "Obviously, we will obey any court order which declares the School District to be trespassing. We have not been made aware of any further contingencies that would, or could, be ordered in relation to such an injunction should the Village be successful and the District barred from the park properties. Nor have we been informed of any plans on the part of the Board of Trustees to move forward with operating recreation programs should the School District be restricted from the property. We continue to await confirmation from the Village regarding its capacity to run EJRP's diverse and complex programming."

Despite a potential injunction, and amid a current legal action regarding ownership, EJRP planning continues for upcoming summer programs, including camps and swim lessons. (The full summer brochure can be viewed at www.ejrp.org.)

"While we hope for a reasonable end to the situation, the responsible thing to do for citizens and patrons of EJRP is to move forward with providing our Recreation Department opportunities to the community," Deweese said. "For the School District, this includes hiring summer personnel, planning for summer programs, and budgeting for such responsibilities."

During these legal actions, the BoT continues to assert the Prudential Committee (PC) has refused to meet. To the contrary, there has been a standing invitation from the PC inviting the Trustees to all board meetings.

"It is frustrating for the Trustees to assert any lack of communication on the part of the PC. Members of the PC have been frequent attendees at Trustee meetings and we were pleased that a Trustee and the Village Manager took up the PC's open invitation to attend EJRP budget development sessions," Deweese said. "It is an odd notion for the Trustees to now expect the parties to sit down and talk, given that the Trustees decided to begin legal action against the School District. If the Trustees are genuine in their interest to talk and not fight, a first step would be to stop the legal proceedings."

Regardless of EJRP governance in the future, EJSD has bonded for, and maintains, the associated debt for the citizen-approved swimming pool and structural improvements at Maple Street Park. The long-term debt on this bond will not be paid off until 2019. As the bond is non-transferrable, citizens can expect to continue voting on this required annual expense item (about 10 percent of the budget) each year until the debt is paid off.

As EJRP currently falls under EJSD's jurisdiction, citizens will be voting on the 2011-2012 EJRP budget alongside the annual School budget on Tuesday, April 12 (polls open from 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. at Essex High School). Everyone is invited to learn more about the budget at the Annual Meeting on Monday, April 11, beginning at 7:45 p.m. in the Essex High School Auditorium.

In addition to the EJRP budget, citizens will also have the opportunity to vote on a non-binding advisory article asking for Essex Junction voters' recommendations on whether EJRP should remain under the governance of the PC.

"We want to hear the voices of our citizens, and want to continue to do what is in their best interests, including providing a successful and efficient recreation and parks program as we have for the last 40 years," Deweese said. "This non-binding article will allow voters to inform us how they think EJRP should be operated in our community going forward."

More information related to the EJRP governance issue, including the PC's position, can be found at http://www.ccsuvt.org/school-boards/prudential-committee/.