Parks have interim director

The search for a new director will begin in four to six weeks.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city's park and recreation commission officially named the mayor's chief of staff/secretary as its interim director.
The Monday appointment of Jason Whitehead is effective immediately.
Whitehead will be responsible for overseeing the department's operations until a permanent director is hired.
The search for a director will begin in four to six weeks, said Michael A. James, the commission's secretary.
"We're having Mr. Whitehead take over temporarily to help the programs and projects flow smoothly," he said.
Joseph R. McRae, who held the job for 18 years and worked for the city since 1979, abruptly resigned last week.
Mayor Jay Williams said there is a matter in front of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission related to the park and recreation commission, but he declined to discuss it.
The park and recreation commission met behind closed doors Friday to discuss a disciplinary matter related to McRae.
Abrupt resignation
McRae, who earned about 70,000 annually as director, was planning to take a city-offered early-retirement incentive toward the end of the year before his Wednesday resignation.
"We knew his departure was imminent," James said. "We're not conducting the investigation and we're not talking about it."
McRae's departure leaves a large void because the commission doesn't have a deputy director, James said.
"It was something we talked about and it's something we'll be looking at in the future," he said about hiring a deputy director.
McRae couldn't be reached to comment.
skolnick@vindy.com