D.C. COUNCILMEMBER Harry “Tommy” Thomas Jr. blasted this week Mayor Adrian M. Fenty’s firing of more than two-dozen workers at the Department of Parks and Recreation, including key frontline employees and critical managers. The terminations and reduction-in-force were executed late Friday; some individuals were made to stay after office hours under the guise they were going to meet with the director. Instead, they were given pink slips.

Chair of the Committee on Libraries and Parks and Recreation, Thomas decried the action’s timing, coming just one month before summer activities are expected to kick off. Six recreation specialists and recreation assistants along with five maintenance workers were among those fired. A sports specialist, community relations program coordinator and volunteer coordinator also were terminated, according to the administrative order signed on April 20, 2009 by DC Human Resources Director Brender Gregory, a copy of which was obtained by TBR.

Thomas further questioned whether Fenty had made the right choice with the selection of Ximena Hartsock, a former deputy chief at the D.C. Public Schools, as the new DPR director. (Clark E. Ray also was fired last week; residents and others who came in contact with him at the agency have since roundly praised him.) Hartsock appears steeped in academic and school-related program management. But there isn’t anything in her background to suggest that she has expertise in managing an agency that provides recreation and leisure services to adults as well as senior citizens.

Thomas and his committee are expected to review the agency’s Fiscal Year 2010 budget decisions within the light of the executive’s action, according to a statement released earlier this week by his office.

He has questioned the need for a RIF to deal with the District’s projected revenue shortfall in 2010. The council hasn’t taken any action on the mayor’s 2010 budget proposal. Therefore, it’s unclear how much money the DPR will have for programs and personnel. The firings may be unwarranted. 

But, Thomas asserted that Fenty’s actions could adversely affect DPR’s current 2009 budget. He said severance, annual leave and other costs associated with such terminations must be paid from this year’s funds.

“Recent administrative and personnel actions undertaken by the executive in the middle of the 2010 budget review process raises a host of concerns,” he said. “ I plan to use my oversight authority to the fullest to ensure that the agencies under my purview remain viable during these trying economic times.”

MEANWHILE, the mayor is proposing to increase fees for nearly all recreation programs and facilities, according to information in the April 17^th issue of the D.C. Register. The hike could cause hardship for low-income families and youth sports team who rely heavily on the DPR’s centers and fields.

“This will be a disaster,” said one resident.

Others, including those associated with the PlayBall DC, a group of individuals who promote youth baseball, said that the increase in the use of fields as noted in the Register could affect its ability to continue programs.

Children playing on fields would be charged $35 per hour; use of the indoor gym would cost $45 per hour. A child interested in swimming at the city’s public pools would be charged $1 per visit with an annual cost of $100.

Incredibly, the mayor wants to charge for “ one pass registration”, which he imposed on residents. Children would pay $6 and adults would be forced to pay $10 per year.

For some programs, residents wouldn’t receive get any special consideration. For example, District citizens who want a garden plot will be charged $70 per plot, the same as non-residents. And scheduling use of a center for a special event will cost $650, the same as non-residents.

Several years ago, under Neil Albert, the DPR was returning to its world-class status. But with a revolving door of directors, the agency has deteriorated rapidly. In the two years that Fenty has been in office, there have been two directors. Hartsock is the third. That kind of management instability guarantees problems, including declining staff morale and citizen confidence in the agency.

What’s worse, the mayor’s fee proposal does not recognize the critical nature the department plays in the lives of low-income residents. Nor does it acknowledge that the DPR programs may be for some citizens their only place for family activities during this economic crisis. Raising fees under such circumstances isn’t just bad public policy; it’s insensitive to the needs of citizens.

SIDESHOWS AND SOUVENIRS

OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY ACCUSED OF VIOLATING FAIR LABOR LAWS

A complaint has been filed with the D.C. Office of the Inspector General accusing the city, former Chief Technology Officer Vivek Kundra, and Chief Contracting and Procurement Officer (OCP) David Gragan with violating federal labor regulations in conjunction with a contract to provide technology workers.

“Many of the orders being placed by the OCP on behalf of the Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) were being awarded without due consideration to applicable federal labor regulations,” wrote the complainant in her April 3, 2009 letter a copy of which was obtained by TBR. 

The letter accuses OCP and OCTO officials of violating the “Service Contract Act of 1965, as amended, and the Fair Labor Services Act.”

IG spokesperson Austin Anderson declined to comment on whether the office had received the complaint and launched an investigation. But other government sources the allegations have been added to other issues at OCTO including contracting fraud being investigated by the IG.

The D.C. Council also has launched its own investigation into contracting problems at OCTO. It has not, however, scheduled any public hearing.

Stay tuned.