SYRACUSE -ÊWith the full Syracuse Park Board behind him, Syracuse Park and Recreation Superintendent Mike Hixenbaugh presented the Syracuse Town Council with the park 2001 budget Monday.

The budget includes an increase of $44,044 for the planned community center. Hixenbaugh said if everything goes as planned, the community center construction will be completed by October 2001.

Without the community center in the budget, the park budget would actually decrease, according to the figures presented.

Councilwoman Barbara Carwile questioned the creation of a recreation supervisor, a part-time maintenance employee and a part-time center supervisor. She said she thought the community center was supposed to be a place for meetings and receptions.

"I can't go along with this," she said. "The community center has gotten out of hand." The projects the park board has in mind, she said, are being done at the Lakeland Youth Center, the parks and the schools.

Jeannine Shrock, who donated the land for the community center, told the council the recreation expenses were a small part of the budget.

Park board president Bill Wight said originally the community center was supposed to have been just for meetings and receptions. However, as park board members began talking to various senior and youth groups, they realized the various communities had needs for activities.

He said there is no way some local groups can pay rent and organize activities. A recreational supervisor, he said, would help the groups with their programs.

While he agreed they should have the programs, councilman Bill Hane said he thought the job of the superintendent was to help with the programs. A few years ago, he said, the superintendent was only a part-time employee, and now it's full time.

Jo Butler, local resident, said the park superintendent has enough to do already without taking on added responsibility.

Bill Cutter, council president, asked why the park department needs both a recreation supervisor and a part-time center supervisor. Hixenbaugh said they need to have proper supervision for liability purposes.

Park board member Nancy Duehmig said if the council is against the center, they need to say so now.

Cutter said that no one on the board is opposed to the center, but there is concern on the board regarding funding. "I don't think anybody is of the thinking that it can't be built without some tax dollars," he said.

Councilwoman Carol Koble suggested the money for the community center could be set aside in a separate account.

The council approved the $44,044 Hixenbaugh requested, putting $40,000 in a separate account and appropriating $4,044 for a part-time maintenance employee. Of the $4,044, $3,120 is for salary.

The council also approved the park budget for $141,940.

The cumulative park and recreation fund was approved at $19,000, which, Hixenbaugh said, will help pay for architectural fees for the community center.

A vehicle for town manager Brian Redshaw was approved to be included in the town manager's budget, which was approved at $80,320 for 2001. The vehicle will be leased along with the three vehicles the police department will lease.

At $497,872, the clerk's budget was approved. The budget includes $40,000 for the community center.

Debt service was approved for $31,225.

The council also discussed the overall budget projection and adjustments. To make the budget come in under the maximum allowed, the council voted to reduce the engineering fee allowance for this year by $10,000; reduce the industrial expansion account in the clerk's budget by $10,000; and take $35,000 out of the cigarette tax fund.

Members of the Syracuse Town Council include Barbara Carwile, Paul Stoelting, Carol Koble, Bill Hane and Bill Cutter. Their regular meeting is today at 7:30 p.m. in the Syracuse Town Hall. [[In-content Ad]]