Augusta parks director quits

Augusta Recreation and Parks Director Glenn Parker tendered his resignation Monday, on the heels of the resignations of two other top city officials and pending wrongful death litigation involving the recreation department.

Parker asked that his resignation be effective May 17 and that he receive 14 weeks' severance pay, or approximately $28,000, according to his resignation letter, which gave no explanation for his decision.

His resignation follows those of City Administrator Janice Allen Jackson and city General Counsel Andrew MacKenzie last week. The Augusta Commission approved paying Jackson and MacKenzie a year's salary and benefits to step down.

Parker’s resignation also parallels pending litigation initiated by the family of 12-year-old Melquan Robinson, who was electrocuted at the city-run Fleming Athletic Complex in October after he touched a ball field fence.

Parker was among several city officials sent a notice about the pending lawsuit earlier this month. The family is seeking $5 million for their loss and claims city officials knew about problems with wiring at Fleming Athletic Complex because of prior incidents when children were shocked.

The city is in the process of revamping its safety policy and inspection process for facilities such as Fleming. At a recent subcommittee meeting on the topic, Commissioner Sammie Sias, an electrician, said prior electrical work at Fleming appeared pieced together, and that a trained safety officer would have “removed that kind of junk.”

As recreation director, Parker was heavily involved in projects such as the city’s master plans for events and upgrading parks and facilities, as well as developing new projects for the city’s upcoming sales tax referendum. Parker also took a lead in the city’s plan to create a new music and food festival with possible ties to music legend James Brown in 2020, and in the upcoming Banjo-B-Que and Music Festival, to be held at Lake Olmstead Stadium next month.

Augusta Commissioner John Clarke said Parker was “shaken” by the Fleming incident, but he did not think the commission treated Parker any more harshly than other city department heads.

“I don’t really ever remember any commissioner coming down hard on him,” Clarke said.

Asked whether the departures put the city’s direction at risk, Commissioner Ben Hasan said interim and deputy staff members are capable of keeping the government functioning well.

“I think we’re in a good place. I think if leadership here – the mayor and commission – if we sit down and have a good conversation, we’ve got qualified staff who can do the (work), if we are honorable and respectful and empower them to the next level,” Hasan said.

Commissioner Mary Davis was surprised and upset by the news.

"I hate to hear that Glenn is leaving," she said. "He has been a huge asset to the staff, and I appreciate all that he has done for his department and for Augusta."

Parker retired as Aiken recreation director in 2015, the same year he replaced former Augusta Recreation Director Bob Levine. Levine stepped down in 2014 after about 18 months on the job.