A longstanding conflict between Kaysville's recreation director and the citizens board that runs the program has resulted in director Marianne Gardner's resigning.
The recreation board met Thursday night, and Gardner submitted her resignation Friday morning.Board chairman Halina Handsaker said the board is looking at making some major changes in the city program, including turning the director position into a part-time rather than full-time job.
Vance Garfield, the city's parks and cemetery supervisor, will act as recreation director until the program is revamped, Handsaker said.
Problems go back to September when Gardner and a newly appointed recreation board disagreed on how the city's program should operate.
The board was appointed by the mayor and City Council to replace what had been an informal recreation advisory committee.
Under a new state law, the board is appointed by the mayor and council and has certain statutory powers, including hiring and firing the director. Those actions can be appealed to the council, under the statute.
When the conflict between Gardner and the board developed last fall, the council agreed not to intervene to allow the new board to work out the problems and redirect the city's recreation program.
Handsaker said the board gave Gardner some options at Thursday night's meeting. However, after thinking them over, she decided to resign instead.
"We don't think we need a full-time recreation director," Handsaker said. "With some changes in the way the program is operated, for instance having recreation telephone inquiries and program registrations handled by the city staff instead of at the recreation building, I think it can be handled by a part-time person.
"This recreation program is supposed to be self-sufficient, but it never has been. It's always run in the red," Handsaker said. "We think we can turn that around, perhaps using paid league directors in season, assisted by volunteers, instead of a full-time director.
"We also think we can expand the scope of the program, and offer more opportunities," Handsaker said.
Gardner could not be reached for comment.