Readers Have Strong Opinions About Recreation Department Situation
Parents angry that children may pay the price for investigation.
A sign posted on the door of the Youth Center on Livingston Street says the facility will be closed until furth notice.
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Almost a month after residents learned that the Tewksbury Youth Center had been closed indefinitely and that Parks and Recreation Director Roy Patterson had been placed on paid administrative leave, there is still no end in sight to an investigation being conducted into possible financial mismanagement.
On Friday, a spokesperson for District Attorney Gerry Leone's office said there is "no timetable" set for the completion of the investigation.
Similarly, Town Manager Richard Montuori has stated that there is no timetable for the re-opening of the Youth Center. Last week, the town took down the Parks and Recreation page on the town Web site and replaced it with a message that stated that the entire Recreation Department has been closed indefinitely. In addition, Montuori stated that no decision has been made regarding the future of upcoming Recreation Department programs, including the popular Father-Daughter Valentine's Dance.
This information generated strong reaction from Tewksbury Patch readers, many of whom felt it was unfair for children to lose out as their result of the investigation. Here is a sampling of the posted comments .
"It appears those who are suffering the most from the "indefinite" closure of the Rec. Dept are the families that have utilized it. It is a disgrace that the Father/Daughter Dance is cancelled, 4-14 year old girls will be disappointed and the Rec. Dept. Director is sitting at home getting paid. Paid by the Town that cancelled all of the activities for the very families that pay the taxes and kept the Rec. Dept funded through the fees." -- Jenn
"This is going to be HUGE come summer camp time!" -- lof39
"This is the time when parents who aren't working jump up and volunteer to make sure these things happen. Johnson said the town manager would do what he can with town staff. Forget town staff. It's time for the residents to step up. However, I do think that this probably has a lot to do with money, since I'm sure all the Rec funds are frozen due to the investigation (even though that's not the reason given in this article). Maybe Ginsburg could come up with a charitable idea to still have the father/daughter dance at the country club. It is the 10th annual for cripes sake. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater." -- Melissa Gleaton
"Not only did the funding come from the taxes but the high cost of the summer program and after school programs. Where did all the money go? Is it being used to pay him to sit on his duff at home so that the rest of the town can pay the price. My child attended the summer camp since 2nd grade and is now in the high school This past year is the first time he didn't attend althought he played around in his head about being a CIT. Glad this didn't happen ... role-modeling shouldn't be coming from the rec. I would love to know what finally sparked the investigation! -- A Fan of Tewksbury Patch
george
1:02 pm on Monday, January 10, 2011
as a parent, i sent my child there in the summer, i gave them $25 a day, they just cash the checks, who's doing the bookeeping.
Tom DeVeau
4:13 pm on Monday, January 10, 2011
I have let the town and other leaders in the community know of my passion for this position and the opportunity to step in and keep things going while it all gets sorted out. I am 100% for the children of the community and will do anything possible to keep things going.
DCN
5:59 am on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Amen!!!!
After all, this is for the children of this community. Why let someone bring it down. I am sure there are plenty of people in town who would step up to the opportunity to help out this situation for the kids.
lof39
8:57 am on Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Tewks community services charges 42$ a day - and that doesnt include snacks/lunch or field trips
Cheryl
8:44 am on Saturday, January 15, 2011
No one really knows what is happening until the investigation is complete. Do you really know if it was Roy? I would think it would be a formality to put him on leave until investigation is complete. He wasn't the only one working there and I'd like to know who oversees that department. They too may be at fault, so lets not speculate and go with assumptions, as we really don't have all the details yet. I'm sure this is not going to be the last of these situations! This town seems to be in quite a mess! I'm sure there are lots of people in this town that would step up and help the town until they can get it all figured out.
lof39
9:57 am on Wednesday, January 19, 2011
what about the other rec dept employee that was there - the assistant director or whatever her title was? where is she now? is she on paid leave too?
Marianne
5:52 pm on Thursday, February 10, 2011
The Rec dept summer camp was a great place for kids to go AND the most affordable in town.
The others are asking 42 dollars a day! PLUS the Rec also offered a after school program FREE!! The schools are asking I think 52-60 a week! 200 + a month! who can affor that??????
lof39
8:16 pm on Thursday, February 10, 2011
52-60 a week??? I just signed my 2 kids up for ONE day at the schools feb vacation camp. $134 for ONE DAY! $42 a day per kid, $25 a day per kid field trip. Yup I said ONE DAY. ...And - now there are no other choices
DCN
9:31 pm on Thursday, February 10, 2011
lof39...that is absurd!!!!! Maybe if D.A. Gerry Leone's office, in Woburn, gets enough calls they could help out with this situation! The Billerica Boys and Girls Club is always an option. They are good with the kids and there is lots to do there. A shame the money would go to another town tho.
lof39
9:24 am on Friday, February 11, 2011
yes - looked into the billerica boys/girls club. They give first rights for camps to billerica residents, then in there is any spots left they will open it up to others with a wait list.
Tewksbury Mom
11:06 am on Friday, February 11, 2011
Why is everyone complaining about $42 a day to have someone watch your kid in a safe environment while you are at work? Yeah it stinks if you have more than 1 kid, but if you stop and think about someone watching your kid from 9-5 while you have to work that's $5.25 an hour which is less than what you'd have to pay a sitter to come and entertain them. You don't have to pay for the field trip, but if you do $25 to go bowling or see a movie with lunch and transportation to and from is not that bad. You'd have to pay almost that much if you took them yourself.
Patch Fan
12:15 am on Sunday, February 13, 2011
Hello, if you work full time and have just one kid that comes out to$210 a week and a lot more if you have more than one kid. Sooo, I dont know about you but that's a lot of money...