SANDUSKY — Here are the questions about the city recreation department we sent city manager John Orzech and City Commission President Kate Vargo. These questions were developed after the resignation of Tondra K. Frisby, the city’s former youth program supervisor.
In an exit interview with the city’s human resources department before her last day, Frisby said she would not work for the city again in the future, citing bad experiences on the job and systemic bias against Black employees. She also was asked if she would refer friends as potential city employees, and her answer was, “absolutely not.” We obtained a copy of the exit interview and published a news article about it.
Stay Tuned Sandusky also learned recently and reported about the city’s decision to eliminate much of the out-of-school programming that Frisby established at Mills school. The questions we sent the city center on Frisby’s departure, the concerns she raised about employment discrimination; and the decision to eliminate the program rooms for the out-of-school programming.
Orzech said he met with Vargo and reviewed the questions with her prior to sending his response. Below are the answers he gave.
Stay Tuned …
Next week we will be reporting what the Sandusky City Commissioners say about broken promises and why the dance room, the learn to sew room, the podcasters in training room, the art room, the reading and writing room and other program rooms are being eliminated from youth programming.
𝙎𝙏𝘼𝙔 𝙏𝙐𝙉𝙀𝘿 𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙨 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣-𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜
The space for out-of-school programming in the new facility has been downsized by about 90% compared to what is currently used at Mills. Who, specifically, made the floor plan decisions and who determined how much space would be allocated? Who decided to eliminate the nine specialized programming spaces, when was it decided, and what process was conducted to reach these decisions? Why have frontline employees not been involved in this process, and why was so little space reserved for out-of-school programming in the 28,000-square-foot facility?
𝘾𝙄𝙏𝙔 𝙈𝘼𝙉𝘼𝙂𝙀𝙍 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙨
Ordinance 23-065 authorizing the agreement for professional design services with Brandstetter Carroll Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio, for the Recreation/Community Center Site Selection and Conceptual Design Project began the process of design. Subsequently, an ad hoc committee appointed by City Commission was formed to review the design and programming concepts. The recommendations as a result of their work is attached. As you know, Ms. Frisby was a member of the committee. Lastly, the award for the Rec center design build contract Ordinace 25-291(attached) clearly details the facilities recommended outlay including two gyms, walking track, fitness area, lockers, activity rooms, etc. as approved by Commission.
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𝙎𝙏𝘼𝙔 𝙏𝙐𝙉𝙀𝘿 𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙧 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙨
How does eliminating these core out-of-school services align with assurances made to voters—whose support passed the rec levy by just 52 votes—that current youth programming would be preserved?
