Tired of being “treated like crap,” some of Woolwich’s recreation associations want more respect from township staff, coming just short of calling for the resignation of director of recreation and facilities Karen Makela in addressing councillors Tuesday night.
Beyond a lack of communication and little follow-through on promises, the rec. associations say volunteers are treated poorly and given no respect, with speakers singling out Makela.
Representatives from groups in Breslau, Conestogo and Bloomingdale attended the meeting.
Lisa Nadon of the Breslau Recreation Association said she intends to step down as president at Friday’s annual general meeting, frustrated by the process. For Conestogo’s Lisa MacDonald the issues have been mounting since a new director took over last fall.
“It’s been a very trying and frustrating year,” she said, adding she “fears ties will be broken” with the community.
Even former Ward 3 councillor Murray Martin, a 20-year volunteer in Conestogo, felt compelled to address the topic, calling on Mayor Todd Cowan and chief administrative officer David Brenneman to show some leadership in dealing with the problems.
“Something has really gone wrong in the last year,” he said.
Township staff was clearly on the defensive. Makela had a report detailing a list of meetings and actions ready even before the delegations addressed why they’d come. And Brenneman, who also took criticism from the speakers, argued the rec. association volunteers were unfairly portraying staff as uncooperative, chafing at the use of the word stonewalling.
The controversy seemed to come as news to councillors.
“I’m kind of in the dark. It’s not clear what the problem is,” said Mayor Todd Cowan, perhaps alluding to the diplomatic language used to discuss the complaints.
The delegates were clear, however, about not wanting any more meetings with either Makela or Brenneman.
In a later interview, Nadon said there was no point in more meetings “that go nowhere.”
“We meet and meet. Nothing’s changed.”
That frustration is what led her and the other rec. associations to come forward.
“We need to get it in front of the people, in front of council.”
That the issues came as a surprise to councillors is an indication staff was content to keep everything under wraps, she added. But with volunteers walking away due to the treatment from staff and the lack of respect in meetings, something had to be done.
“The volunteers are fed up. They’re tired, and they’re tired of the fight,” said Nadon, noting the volunteer work that got the community centre up and running is being eroded. “All that work is getting washed away.”
For his part, Brenneman acknowledges there’s been a problem with communication and lack of follow-through between staff and the rec. associations, but he insists the township respects the work done by volunteers.
“We definitely want to continue a relationship. We do not want to jeopardize that,” he said of the contribution made by volunteers.
That said, the township does want a new model for how it interacts with the associations. Traditionally, the rec. associations have by and large run themselves, except for when there’s a funding need, which is when they come to staff for help. The recreation department wants an ongoing relationship, to play more of a role.
“We want to make sure there’s a balance in the relationship.”
He remains optimistic staff and volunteers can settle their differences.
“I’m still very hopeful that we can work through things by reasonable people sitting down and talking about solutions,” said Brenneman. “These things can be worked through, of that I’m confident.”
His words echoed those of Makela at Tuesday night’s meeting, where she said she’s eager to “go forward” in a “positive relationship that works both ways.”
Nadon, however, remains unconvinced, offering the possibility of some improvement if new players, including councillors, replace the current staff members at the meeting table.
“The only way a meeting is going to be useful is if they’re going to have a liaison with power to make decisions.”
Having the township act on the associations’ requests and being respectful while doing so would go a long way towards restoring confidence, she added. So far, it’s only been talk of respect.
“Action speaks louder than words, and their actions show none of that.”
The largest barrier appears to be a lack of understanding about the contribution of volunteers, she said. The people involved with the rec. associations care about their communities, rather than seeing it as just another bit of work.
“It’s our passion – they’re not understanding of that. This to them is just another job.”
