The Salem Parks Dept.’s new Recreation Supervisor Rocco Crawford will be a familiar face to many parkgoers, having served as the pool manager at the Centennial Park Pool for the last two years. Parks Director Kelli Pastore and the parks commissioners agreed that as the duties of the recreation supervisor primarily concern operations at the pool and Crawford was a natural fit for the position. (Photo by Morgan Ahart)

SALEM — The Salem Parks Commission voted unanimously to approve the hire of a new recreation supervisor in its meeting Wednesday.

The board voted unanimously to approve the hire of Rocco Crawford. Crawford has already worked at the department as pool manager at Centennial Park Pool for the last two years –a role that Parks Director Kelli Pastore said would give him a solid foundation for his new position.

“The biggest part of the [recreation supervisor] job in the summer, like 90% of the job, is the pool and being the pool manager for the last two years there’s very little he needs to learn because he’s been doing it every day for two years. There are a couple things like how we record deposits and things like that, but that’s easy, so it just makes sense,” said Pastore.

Pastore also said that Crawford had already gained experience with the roles duties by assisting with “Go Wild in the Park” events throughout the summer. Commissioner Don Yeasted said that he also felt the recreation supervisor position was “heavily weighted toward the pool operations” which Crawford “knows backwards and forwards.” After reviewing Crawford’s application and resume he also felt he would be a good choice for the position.

“He gets along with everybody [at the pool] and they get along with him which is important. I feel comfortable promoting him from pool manager to our new recreations supervisor,” said Yeasted.

Commissioner Lori Colian asked if the hire would require city approval as a full-time position. Pastore contacted the auditor’s office regarding the change in payroll. Since the position is already established in the city’s wage ordinance and has a set salary rather than a sliding pay-scale it should not be an issue.

During his report, Crawford said that a new book would be posted at the Storybook Trail at Waterworth Memorial Park, and that the “Cat in the Hat” would be in attendance to take photos with kids from 1-4 p.m. Saturday. The department’s annual “Trail of Treats” is scheduled from 3-5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 12 at Memorial Park. The costume contest will be at the bandshell prior at 2 p.m.

So far about 50 groups have registered to distribute candy. According to Pastore the event would go on as planned in the event of light rain. For severe weather, the event would move to the Salem Community Center’s soccer field.

The parks commission will meet next at 5 p.m. Oct. 22.