Rec director resigns

The Town of Saratoga Recreation Director Kim Hemenway resigned during the May 21 meeting of the Saratoga Town Council.

Hemenway gave a report to the council during the meeting and discussed issues involving preparing the pool for the summer season. After her report, Hemenway gave the council a notice of resignation, saying her final day would be June 14. She thanked the Town for the opportunity of being employed there and the experience she gained from the position. She finished by asking the council to let her know anything she could do to assist during the transition.

Hemenway was hired to the position in September 2023. She was the third director for the Town of Saratoga in the past three years.

The council thanked Hemenway for her time. Mayor Chuck Davis then requested the council to give approval to advertise for a new rec director, as well as a pool manager. A motion to advertise was passed.

Davis then discussed the possibility of an assistant rec director being the pool manager during the summer and an assistant during the winter.

“One slows down when the other picks up … maybe it could become a full-time position,” Davis said.

“I’ve talked a lot about that, about how we transition from the busy season going into winter where we desperately need an assistant or some staff,” Hemenway said.

“It might be a way to solve some of the issues we have with not having enough people, it’s just something for the council to think about,” Davis said.

Councilman Jerry Fluty then asked Hemenway her reasons for resigning.

“It’s a pretty demanding position without any staff and the pay is kind of low. Going into the position as a rec director I had hopes of doing more directing and bringing programs to the community. Mostly what I’ve been doing is janitorial work and low level work,” Hemenway said.

She also said she felt she could be doing better things.

“I don’t blame anyone for trying to better themselves,” Councilman Mike Cooley said.

The council passed a motion to approve Hemenway’s resignation.

The next Saratoga Town Council meeting will be at 6 p.m. on June 4 at the Saratoga Town Hall.