Long-Time Rec Director Appears on Way Out

It appears as though it is only a matter of time before Doug Smith is no longer working for Madison for the first time in 37 years.

The Borough Council took the first steps on Monday night to split the duty's of Smith's position–recreation director and recycling coordinator–and change how each is fulfilled.

Council moved to draft a resolution for introduction at the next meeting that would make the recreation director position part time and would attempt to make the recycling coordinator position a shared service between multiple municipalities. Smith made it clear that if the council ultimately voted in favor of taking those steps, he would not be the one filling the part-time rec position.

"I guess, based on what your indicating, I have thought about this," Smith said. "If this was the direction you were going to go, I probably would have to immediately retire, at the end of the week, I think."

Members of the public came to support Smith, who had read a prepared statement toward the beginning of the meeting detailing his service to the borough.

"Is this the time to not have someone who has been familiar with field use and different resources in light of the 49 acres, and compare it with what we currently have and need down the road?" said Madison Little League President Ernie Cicconi. "Is it not the time to have someone looking at that?"

Smith, 62, said he would have liked to have stayed on with the borough for at least three more years while helping to provide in-depth training to someone who would eventually take his position. He also detailed his consistent work history.

"In 37 years I've been fortunate to be healthy; I've only taken three sick days," said Smith, who also told the council and public that he regularly only takes between 12-15 of his allotted 20 vacation days. He also gets three personal days.

"This is not a reflection of his service," Borough Administrator Ray Codey said to the board. "This is a decision trying to plan and position the borough looking ahead to the year 2011 in anticipating the state legislature and governor will be moving from a 4 percent cap on expenditures with certain exceptions to what is called a hard cap at 2.5 with no exceptions. We have to look to the future, we just can't look through blinders to the 2010 year."

With the amount of sick time Smith has accrued–he is eligible to take 100 capped days–as well as the vacation time he can take–he hasn't taken any so far this year–the borough wouldn't save much in 2010. The savings would start next year.

Smith also said that when he retires before the year is up, he doesn't see how the summer programs he usually plans will be possible without his guidance. Mayor Mary-Anna Holden said at this point there may not be enough money to budget for those programs this year.

Though they tended to express regret before voting to draft the resolution, most council members vocally agreed with Codey that splitting of the positions was where the borough needs to go.

"As Mr. Codey alluded to, if the 2010 budget is a nightmare, the 2011 budget is a nightmare times two as we look forward to it," said Councilman Robert Conley, who has worked with Smith for decades. "We have to start taking steps. I think New Jersey has made it clear, they don't want to pay for more than they need to for services. As good as Doug has been as combined recreation director and recycling coordinator, whether he retires tomorrow or three years from now, we would not hire for that position."