"At this time I am asking for the dismissal of Mr. Jim Cole as acting president and as a board member of the New Castle Parks and Pool Board," Roberts said.

Mayor Greg York said he would take Roberts' request under review and that a hearing on the matter will be scheduled if deemed necessary. City attorney David Copenhaver said there is a state statute defining board misconduct he will review. Cole made no comment regarding Roberts' allegations or request.

The meeting opened with Copenhaver stating he wanted to put any questions about the board's composition to rest. He had members Cole, Roberts and Patty Broyles take an oath affirming they would answer his questions truthfully and then asked each about their political affiliation and whether or not they had an interest in and knowledge of the parks. Broyles said she is a Democrat, Cole said he is a Republican, and Roberts said he is a Libertarian. All affirmed they were interested in and knowledgeable about the parks. Board member Jerry Hyden was absent. Copenhaver said Hyden's political affiliation doesn't matter because IC 36-10-3-4 states that no more then two parks board members may be members of the same party.

"Based on the testimony I've heard, no matter what (Hyden's) answer to my first question would be, whether he has no affiliation or is an independent, whether he's a Libertarian, Democrat, or Republican, we have no more than two members of this board affiliated with any one party. The board is properly constituted based on the statute," Copenhaver said.

A short time later Cole explained his previous concerns about the board's make-up and said he was only trying to do his duty in keeping with the oath of appointment he agreed to when originally named to the board.

In other news, Mayor York announced Dan Denney, who currently serves as the superintendent of South Mound Cemetery, also will serve as the city's new parks superintendent effective immediately. Denney said his first priority is to repair or replace aging equipment and to get the parks cleaned up. Denney previously held both jobs under Mayors Tom Nipp and Jim Small and said he didn't anticipate any problems doing so again.

"I've got some good employees and am going to have to rely on them a lot at both places," Denney said.

Broyles presented the board with a preliminary draft of a 5-year plan for the parks and said she welcomes public input on how to make them better.

Pastor Denny Neal asked for and was given permission to host a Spring Fest/Community Day April 19 in Baker Park. He also announced a $1,000 donation to the parks from Grace Baptist Church.

HOPE Initiative representative Cathy Hamilton also said her organization would like to create a couple of "pocket parks" at 16th Street and E Avenue and at 16th and H Avenue to enhance the city's bike/pedestrian plan. Both are sites HOPE assumed ownership of in conjunction with the Blight Elimination Program. Mayor York suggested all parties involved meet to work out details.