Centerton to dissolve Parks & Recreation advisory board, mayor plans bylaws rewrite before reconstituting

The Centerton City Council adopted Ordinance 2025-40 on Aug. 12 to dissolve the city’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, following staff reports that the board had low participation and confusion over its role.

Background: Staff and council members said the advisory board had become ‘‘blurred’’ in purpose. Anthony (city staff) told the council board members often did not attend meetings and the group at times expected oversight duties over department budgets rather than the advisory outreach role the council intended.

Public response: The council received a call earlier in the day from long-serving board member Robin Reed, who said she and other board members were not formally notified in advance of the ordinance and felt blindsided. The mayor said staff would notify the board and that volunteers from the former board may still be welcome to help staff at events.

Future plans: Mayor Bill Edwards said he supports reconstituting a parks advisory board once the community center is fully operational, after redrafting bylaws and clarifying roles and attendance requirements. He told the council he will ask the city attorney to help rewrite bylaws and present options to the council in two to three years.

Council action: The council voted to repeal the municipal code section that created the advisory board. Staff said one member, Don, had already resigned and city staff will communicate the ordinance change and next steps to current and former members.

Ending: The board dissolution is immediate; the mayor proposed a future re-establishment with clearer bylaws and responsibilities tied to the community center’s programming.