Hillsboro Parks And Rec

Senior Center board not a public body

Hillsboro Parks and Recreation spokeswoman Corinne Bloomfield says, by agreement, the city owns and maintains the Senior Center Building at 750 SE Eighth Ave. and handles evening and weekend facility rentals. The board of the nonprofit Community Senior Center of Hillsboro Inc. is in charge of all classes, special events and activities for the Hillsboro senior community during weekday business hours. 

The open meetings question lies at the heart of an ongoing dispute between patrons of the Senior Center, who say the board uses this exception so no on else can offer input or even know what is being discussed.

The board maintains it is only responsible to dues-paying members.

Board members are elected from a list of nominees approved by a nominating committee. The center has only 142 of these members, which represent less than a quarter of the people who attend activities at the center, according to a senior center count.

In a letter to the Parks and Recreation Department dated May 17, several patrons said they believed the city should discontinue the agreement with the nonprofit entity, claiming it is unfair that members of the nominating committee are also running for positions on the board of directors.

The board of directors seeks to achieve what is ultimately in the best interests of the organization, said Board President Ted Cornish at a June 15 membership meeting, which was open to the public. The center’s by-laws allow for one open meeting of the board each June.

“(Our) job is governance,” Cornish said. “It’s not a representative government.”

This is reflected in a message defining the difference between board and membership meetings in the March 2011 newsletter: “In some organizations, by practice or sometimes by rule, membership meetings are open to the public but board or committee meetings are customarily held in executive session,” the message reads. “…members of the organization who are not members of the board or committee, and sometimes non-members, may be invited to attend, perhaps even give a report, but they are not entitled to attend.”

Cornish said all paying members are eligible to become members of the board, but nominees are sometimes selected based on their suitability for open positions. Many applications were received, and the nominations committee had to reject several due to the abundance. The nominees still must be elected by a vote of the membership, he said.

Hillsboro Parks & Recreation summer activities registration is ...

What fun things do you plan to do this summer? The City of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Department summer registration is open and you can choose your adventure – right here in your own backyard!

The summer 2011 session includes hundreds of fun, active, adventuresome and inspirational opportunities for toddlers to seniors. Activities include summer camps, arts and crafts, golf, aquatics, nature, tennis, free track meets, dog obedience, fitness, bicycle skills, gymnastics, volunteer opportunities and more. The Outpost is back for the 6 year with a free nine-week drop in activities and lunch program for youth at Shute Park. This free program starts June 16 and from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm every weekday offers various sports, science, crafts, special guest visits and a free nutritious lunch for children ages 1-18. A map to help you discover all of Hillsboro's parks and facilities is also included in the guide.

Various day camps will keep kids from ages 4-17 engaged in positive, creative and educational activities. Day camps are offered throughout the summer and options include Jackson Bottom Nature Exploration Day Camps (ages 4-12), Hillsboro Arts

All classes and costs are available online at http://www.ci.hillsboro.or.us/ParksRec/Recreation/ActivitiesGuide.aspx in easy online magazine-style or PDF view, or through our Rec Xpress online registration system. Printed Activities Guides are available at any of the following locations: Tyson Recreation Center (1880 NE Griffin Oaks), Parks Administration Office (4400 NW 229 Avenue), Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center (527 E. Main Street), Shute Park Aquatic & Recreation Center/SHARC (953 SE Maple Street.), the Hillsboro Main and Shute Park Libraries, and the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to the Rec Xpress online system, registration can be completed by phone at 503-681-5397 (Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 4:30 pm), by mail (4400 NW 229th Avenue, Hillsboro 97124) or in person at the following City locations between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm: Tyson Recreation Center, Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Office, Glenn & Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center, and SHARC.

For more information on City of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation programs, visit www.ci.hillsboro.or.us/ParksRec or call 503-681-6120.

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