CROWN POINT | Only two days into her new job as the head of the Crown Point parks department, Jennie Burgess already has a homework assignment from the City Council.

At a budget workshop Tuesday evening, some council members asked Burgess and Mayor David Uran about the parks budget and the logic of paying a parks director in the same salary range as other department heads such as the fire and police chiefs, who they said have heavy work loads 12 months a year.

"I would feel better if I could see how the work breaks down month to month," Councilman Bob Corbin said.

Uran was quick to defend the department, which has an estimated 2009 budget of more than $900,000. He said the director is a 12-month position and with the possibility of creating a sportsplex on North Street, soon the department could be in charge of operating indoor facilities year round as well.

"There is definitely a level of planning going on," said Burgess, who offered to make the council a timeline of how the department is run and provide other information.

Burgess started in the position Monday, replacing former Parks Director Julie Johnson. Burgess previously was the assistant director for the parks department. At a budget workshop last week, Uran announced a proposed restructuring for the department that eliminated the position of assistant director.

"I'm excited. It's going to be challenging, but it's going to be fun," Burgess said.

Uran said because it was a personnel matter, he could not say if Johnson submitted a letter of resignation or was asked to leave the department. He said the department had a vacancy, and the position was offered to Burgess.

Johnson could not be reached for comment.

Johnson was the last department head still working for the city after being hired under former Mayor Dan Klein.

In other business, Corbin asked the council if it should consider looking at insurance for all part-time employees. Corbin's question stemmed from City Judge Kent Jeffir's request to be added onto the city's insurance program.

While other council members didn't see offering insurance to part-time employees as a fiscally responsible idea, Uran said the council will have a presentation at its meeting Monday about insurance benefits for city retirees that may be able to help part-time employees as well.