Ethics panel probes city park board Free use of golf, facilities by members questioned
By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN — The Ohio Ethics Commission is investigating whether the Youngstown Park and Recreation Commission illegally allowed its members to use its facilities for free.
City administration officials requested the investigation.
The city charter states all park and recreation commission members “shall serve without compensation.”
The free lifetime use of park and recreation facilities for past and present commission members, a policy approved Feb. 22 by the commission, violates the charter, and at minimum, presents an appearance of a conflict of interest, Mayor Jay Williams said.
Williams wonders whether the policy violates state law.
That’s why the state ethics commission is investigating the policy.
The mayor, who’s criticized how the commission operates, recently sent a letter to its members to stop immediately the practice of using park and recreation facilities without paying. He said he did so after previous verbal warnings to stop the practice were ignored by some members.
Member Michael A. James, who acts as the commission’s spokesman, said the policy will be rescinded.
The board next meets Thursday.
Possible punishment
Williams said he thinks that commission members’ free use of park and recreation facilities could lead to their discipline or removal.
Removing commission members wouldn’t be easy.
The city charter doesn’t address removal of members. But Williams said there are options: The city could disband the commission, request their resignations or have city council cut the commission’s funding, he said.
None of the commission members has any plans to resign, James said.
Jason Whitehead, the mayor’s chief of staff⁄secretary, was appointed in May as the commission’s interim director after the abrupt resignation of Joseph R. McRae from the job.
McRae quit after a complaint was filed with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission related to the park commission. City officials won’t discuss the issue but acknowledge it’s related to McRae.
While reviewing paperwork recently, Whitehead saw that two current members — David M. Davis and George F. Williams — received free rounds of golf at the city-owned Henry Stambaugh Golf Course on Gypsy Lane.
The records aren’t conclusive as to how much free golf the two received, Whitehead said.
A round of golf at the nine-hole course is $6 for city residents.
“Why are we charging the kids to use the facilities and the members get to use it for free?” Williams said.
James wrote in a statement that he isn’t aware of any commission member’s inappropriately using park facilities.
The ethics commission investigates ethical issues regarding public officials and employees at the state and local levels of government, except for the General Assembly, judges and their respective staffs.
A violation of the state’s ethics law is considered a first-degree misdemeanor, and those convicted face punishment of up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Unanimous approval
In his recent review, Whitehead said he discovered that the five-member commission unanimously voted on a motion Feb. 22 that reads: “In lieu of receiving financial stipends as commissioners they would be awarded use of amenities and facilities at all park locations without cost. Also, after serving five consecutive years, they would be awarded lifetime use of all amenities and facilities within the department at no cost.”
“It’s compensation,” Whitehead said.
The policy, the mayor said, is “highly inappropriate” and “completely irresponsible.”
George F. Williams proposed the policy, according to commission minutes and its sometimes muffled recording of the meeting.
The commission took McRae’s recommendation to discuss the proposed policy matter privately in executive session. It then comes out of executive session and votes in favor of the proposal. The minutes state Denise A. Warren, its vice chairwoman, suggested the policy be taken to the city law department for legal review, but that can’t be heard on the tape.
Law Director Iris Torres Guglucello said her office never received a request from the commission to review the policy.
City council, at the mayor’s recommendation, agreed earlier this month to place charter amendments on the Nov. 6 ballot to overhaul the commission. The amendments, if passed, would remove most of the commission’s autonomy.
The changes are needed, Williams said, because the commission has no accountability or oversight.
skolnick@vindy.com