COMMENTARY
MARK SCHUMANN
Why should the Recreation Commission be reduced to competing in an already crowded field of non-profits holding fundraising events, when taxpayers are asked to pay $20,000 a year just so that Mayor Craig Fletcher and Councilwoman Pilar Turner can enjoy the distinction of being the only two part-time City employees to receive a health insurance benefit?
As admirable as the efforts are by the Vero Beach Recreation Commission to begin holding fundraising events to make up for deep and persistent budget cuts, the larger story, is seems to me, is that the Vero Beach City Council is failing to adequately provide for this essential service.
Imagine Fletcher and Turner holding a fundraising event to raise the $20,000 needed to cover the cost of their health insurance. Not likely. Yet, they have no reservations about putting the Recreation Commission in the position of either cutting programs or panhandling.
In a guest column in today’s Press Journal, County Commissioner Bob Solari, addressing the subject of limited government, wrote, “Some might argue that parks and recreation is not a need. My response would be that in our community the majority believes that this is as much a need as roads and an essential part of our community.”
Notice Commissioner Solari’s respect for the will of the majority. Amen!
Arguably, no one in local government is more fiscally conservative than Solari. If he sees parks and recreation as an “essential part of our community,” perhaps it is time for Fletcher and Turner to take note.
Indian River Guardian 
sad indeed. im for small government but I will say when its feasible. parks and roads and so forth are needed. I couldn’t imagine the pro sale types paying for the usage of the beachs since all of it would be then private.
John A. Sammartano…..Mr Schumann, the Recreation Commision is not
“panhandling” for funds regarding the December 6 event at Royal Palm Point that we are trying to organize. I am not on the Commision, instead local business owners like
myself recognize the strain endured by the City’s Recreation Department in
this very tight fiscal time and would like to help by coming forth,
TOGETHER, and helping the Department’s efforts in continuing children’s
program’s and activities. These activities include keeping the fountains open, the
halloween parade, the Christmas Tree lighting, and the Gymnastics
Department’s annual performances. It was our idea to create the December
6 event and we approached the City, not the other way around. Growing up
in Vero Beach since I was 6 years old, this is a way of providing support and giving
back to a community, to a Recreation Department, that had been a large part in
shaping my life for the better. The Recreation Department has endured budget cuts for at least the previous 4 years as I recall with different Council members holding ofice. Opinions of the effectiveness of City officials should not be intertwined with the efforts of local business owners who are trying to become pro-active in supporting our community. Regardless of who his in ofice, our efforts remain the same.
Understood, John, but a review of Recreation Commission meeting minutes makes it clear the new fundraising efforts arise out of and are now made necessary by recent budget cuts. Even though Council members Fletcher and Turner were willing to make cuts in recreation funding, they were quite non-apologetic about retaining their health insurance benefit. I still contend that $20,000 could be better spent delivering recreation programs. I am not disparaging these fund efforts, John, simply attempting to put them in a larger context.