MILL CREEK PARK Board promotes one of its own

The board will pay the former superintendent $24,863 in benefits.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- The Mill Creek MetroParks board ended a three-month nationwide search for an executive director by promoting one of its employees.
By a unanimous vote Monday night, the board promoted development director Susan Dicken effective July 1.
Board president Harry Meshel said the board reviewed 70 applications from around the country before deciding to promote Dicken.
"We had some extraordinary candidates come in," Meshel said. "We felt pretty proud that we had one of the better ones from our own ranks."
New director
As executive director, Dicken will oversee the parks' day-to-day operations, report to the park board, and be paid a $75,000 yearly salary. She has been paid $55,000 a year as development director.
Dicken will be the first woman to serve as executive director. She will be sworn in July 1 by Mahoning County Probate Judge Timothy Maloney. Former state Rep. Thomas Carney will continue to volunteer as interim executive director until Dicken takes the position. He was named interim director April 15.
"I really feel honored and very proud to serve the community and keep our special place [Mill Creek Park], where memories are created every day, alive and vibrant," Dicken said. "It's one of our greatest community assets."
Dicken replaces William J. Schollaert, who served as park superintendent and executive director for 21 years before retiring in April. The park board also voted to pay Schollaert $24,863 in benefits.
The money was for 60 days of unused sick leave, 15 days of unused vacation time from 2001, and about five days of unused vacation time from this year.
Goals
Dicken said that as executive director, she wants to continue to develop the Mill Creek bike path while also working with private businesses to help protect the local environment.
She added that she wants to maintain park bridges and roads, and that she hopes to foster cooperation among the local community and park staff and administration.
"I think we can truly pull together and appreciate what we have," Dicken said.
Dicken has worked for the park system for 17 years. She was hired as a planning, grants and public relations specialist in 1985 and promoted to development director in 1989.
Some of the park staff who attended the meeting praised Dicken for her positive attitude and ability to work well with park staff.
"I look forward to a future with excitement and enthusiasm," recreation director Tom Bresko said.