Officials grappling with loss of parks director
Staff filling in, no plans yet to replace late employee
LANSDALE >> Wednesday night’s Parks and Recreation committee meeting was dominated by memories of someone who has shaped the town for decades.
Borough Manager John Ernst and committee chairwoman Mary Fuller shared their thoughts on how the town will proceed without longtime Parks and Recreation Director Carl Saldutti.
“To say we’ll miss him is an understatement, but we will press on, and we’ll do what we need to do to make him proud of the parks system,” Fuller said.
Saldutti passed away Oct. 20 at age 69 after a career that spanned nearly five decades, rising through the ranks from a laborer for the parks and recreation department to its leader by 1978.
For decades, Saldutti was responsible for overseeing a network of 21 parks, dozens of fulland part-time employees, and in 2011 he was recognized for 40 years of service, and in 2013 with the Lansdale Lifetime Achievement Award, for building a yearround calendar of events and programs that will now carry on without him.
“He was the parks and rec department for this borough, and his fingerprints, and his imprint, on this borough is everywhere,” said Ernst.
“He was instrumental in shaping the parks and rec department that we know today, whether it’s the events, the arts festival, the music program, all of the different swim programs, the pools, all of the different camps and programs over the years,” he said.
Saldutti’s longtime assistant Joanne Grubb handled the updates for the parks and rec committee Wednesday night on the ongoing and upcoming programs and events.
As she gave updates, Grubb, Ernst and Fuller shared their thoughts on how Saldutti would handle closing one pool for Labor Day weekend while keeping enough lifeguards for another, or events including the upcoming Mardi Gras parade on Nov. 17 and tree lighting ceremony on Nov. 30.
Fuller and Ernst both thanked staff, including Grubb, for taking on added responsibilities after Saldutti’s passing and ensuring no changes were needed to previously scheduled programs and events.
“They have stepped up, they have made Carl proud. This is what he instilled in them, and they haven’t missed a beat, and they’ve risen to the challenge and pressed on, as Carl would’ve liked,” Fuller said.
Both said staff are continuing to discuss whether and how to fill the vacant position, and said no decisions are imminent while staff try to work through their year-end budget and holiday responsibilities.
“We will be working to try to make sure that we get the best person into position, to continue to move the parks and rec department into the future, and make sure it’s as strong of a department as Carl left us,” Ernst said.
“We would not be where we are today if it wasn’t for Carl’s leadership, his dedication, and his willingness to do whatever it took to get it done, for the betterment of the community,” he said.