The personnel committee of the Pine Bluff Parks and Recreation Commission decided in a Thursday meeting to recommend to the full panel a change in the employment procedures involving directors of the department’s competitive sports programs.
Parks and Recreation Department Director Angela Parker said that the committee feels that individual directors should be hired for each sport. The decision followed a Tuesday commission meeting in which the directors unanimously endorsed a proposal for the department to acquire a membership in the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) so that the organization can take charge of its competitive athletic activities.
In a previous committee meeting, Commissioner Kami Hunt asked that Parker formulate a work description for U.S. Grant, a part-time contract employee who had been overseeing softball competition and other activities. Hunt said her request followed complaints about softball offerings and a lack of basketball activities.
Parker said she had the job description prepared for the Thursday committee session, but the panel’s directive would effectively eliminate Grant’s current position and his employment.
“It’s nothing personal against coach Grant,” Parker said.