Selma board tables park ordinance revisions, asks staff for wording changes and more review

The Town of Selma Summer Recreation Advisory Board reviewed proposed revisions to the town's park ordinances at its Dec. 17 meeting and voted to table the ordinance changes for the January advisory-board meeting while staff incorporates several language edits suggested by the board.

Board members identified a set of items needing clearer language or broader wording to accommodate expanding facilities. Among the edits requested: rename an athletic complex entry to "Richard V. Harrison Athletic Complex" (staff acknowledged the change is needed), broaden a paragraph listing field uses so the ordinance will not require repeated updates as new sports and fields are added, and reword playground supervision language that currently reads as a hard limit on the number of adults allowed at a child's play area.

One board member said the existing draft could be read as prohibiting grandparents or additional caregivers from attending with a child. "Right now, it reads that they're, like, not allowed at the facility with more than 2 parents," the member said, asking staff to rephrase the restriction so it limits overcrowding of equipment rather than limiting caregivers at the park.

The board also asked staff to compare the revised ordinance language against previous drafts and return a clean, red-lined version. A motion to table the park ordinance item until the January advisory-board meeting passed on a voice vote.

Why it matters: the ordinance changes would govern permitted day activities, naming and permitted uses for fields and the rules for parks and playgrounds; board members said clear drafting will reduce the need for frequent amendments as facilities and sports offerings change.

Staff agreed to take the board's edits, reformat and re-circulate the document to the advisory board via email for additional comments before the January meeting.