Marblehead rec commissioners push for more staff, programs

MARBLEHEAD – The Recreation and Parks Commission generated a little less than $19,000 in Devereux Beach parking income last summer.In fact, parking has generated an average income of $18,000-$19,000 for each 11-week beach season since 2008.There was $27,721 in the parking revenue account on Sept. 19 and commissioners expect to have an estimated $40,000 in it a year from now.With that in mind, the commissioners proposed hiring two summer employees and asked Recreation and Parks Superintendent Brendan Egan and Recreation Supervisor Mike Lane to study the possibility.Lane, who has acted as beach supervisor for nine years, told the commissioners Tuesday he spends about one-third of each day on beach duties during those 11 weeks.”That’s roughly two days a week,” Commission Chairman Chip Osborne said.Noting that the commission’s recreation programs are “autonomous and run on their own,” Osborne told his colleagues he saw that Marblehead offers only four recreation programs in the fall. Those recreation programs also generate income and compete with programs at the Van Otterloo YMCA and the Jewish Community Center.”The ‘Y’ and the JCC are re-inventing themselves,” Osborne said. “We could be doing more.”He proposed hiring a beach manager to oversee Devereux Beach activities and a sailing manager to oversee the program at Stramski Pier, a program he would like to see “jacked through the roof” with sailing programs.Osborne suggested that Lane take the time he spends on those summer programs and develop new recreation programs, starting with sailing.He estimated the cost of the two hires at $4,000-$7,000 each.”We presented them (Egan and Lane) with the nucleus of what we want, they will put a plan together,” said Commissioner Sam Ganglani.