Jeannette plans to reset recreation board to 5 members

Jeannette is planning to reduce the size of its recreation board from seven to five members after difficulties in getting volunteers to join.

“We’re having a problem with the rec board getting seven members,” said Councilman Chad Krawtz, who is on the board. “Right now, we’re down to five and the consensus on the current board is to reduce the current members to five going forward.”

Council gave an initial approval last week to an ordinance that would reduce the board’s size to five members. The measure will have to be voted on again before it is formally enacted.

The recreation board was established in early 2023 and city officials sought volunteers interested in planning activities for all city residents. That included taking over operations of some of the events the city holds each year, such as the Halloween parade and costume contest, while adding more year-round activities. Members organized an Easter egg hunt this year and regular open mic events last year at the amphitheater on Clay Avenue.

The board has never had all seven of its seats filled.

“We’ve had a vacancy since its inception,” Krawtz said. “We still haven’t been able to fill the seventh.”

Solicitor Tim Witt said reducing the size could make it easier to get a quorum of members present at monthly meetings to handle business. Krawtz said that has been an issue.

“We’ve been struggling to get a quorum … I think we can do everything with five,” he said.