In its fiscal year 2014 fourth quarter performance report, the Department of Parks and Recreation director Tamaaaiga Pili Gaoteote revealed that the department has been asked to help with ASG special projects, but the department lacks sufficient staff, including management staff, and has a shortage of heavy equipment.

According to the director, the department is short 12 employees when compared to its organizational chart and it needs to hire more workers to fill the shortage so that “we can put more people at the work sites.”

He said Parks and Recreation is now being asked to provide help with special projects from the governor’s office and departments. “We need help, but we first must make sure our responsibilities are taken care of - that of keeping the parks clean and safe for the community to use and enjoy.”

For management staff, he said the department is missing the working supervisor positions that is a must to be at the work sites and these supervisors are the “eyes and ears of management to make sure the work is done and that worker safety is given priority.”

“This department has made acting crew leaders and acting supervisors of our unprepared workers and this has been a big mistake,” he said. “Our workers have never received supervisory training so therefore they don’t understand the type of authority they have, and as such recoil from being given such titles.”

Regarding heavy equipment shortage, he said the department still needs to get at least one dump truck and eventually bring in a second one. Additionally, a bucket truck is needed to safely trim and remove tree branches at the parks, as trees in the parks have never been trimmed or cut.