PARIS – A proposal to share a parks and recreation director among Norway, Paris and Oxford was rejected at a joint meeting Tuesday. But the towns still may work together.
On Thursday, Norway Recreation Director Debra Partridge said recreation committees from the three towns will meet in early February to discuss existing programs in the Oxford Hills region, as well as the possibility of creating new ones.
First, she said, the towns will be contacting groups such as area churches and Legion halls to see what activities and events are available. “What we’d like to do is create a tri-town directory, which each town could have,” she said.
Next, Partridge said, the towns will distribute an area-wide survey to see what additional programs and services adults would like offered.
“Thirty percent of our population is 55 and over,” Partridge said, explaining the need to reach the adult community.
The Paris Parks and Recreation Committee has been without a director since the summer, when Matt Shepard resigned after only a few months on the job. On Tuesday, committee Chairman Dana Chandler proposed Partridge work for all three towns.
Partridge responded that she already works well over 50 hours a week for Norway. “It would be great if the other two towns would hire their own directors,” she said Thursday.
Paris Town Manager Sharon Jackson said she’ll meet next month with the Paris Parks and Recreation Committee to discuss the director position.
Tuesday’s joint meeting was part of a monthly series the three towns have started to see which services or equipment can be shared between different departments.
“I see right now a better landscape for working together than I’ve ever seen in the years I’ve worked here,” Norway Town Manager David Holt said.
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