Shortfall delays hiring of new parks director

By David Skolnick

The commission also rescinded a policy giving free lifetime use of its facilities to members.

YOUNGSTOWN — Although members of the city park and recreation commission have wanted to hire a permanent director for close to a year, they’ve agreed to wait because of the city’s budget problems.

Mayor Jay Williams and Councilman Paul Drennen, D-5th and chairman of council’s park and recreation committee, sent the members a letter last week urging they postpone the hire because the city’s general fund is projected to end the year with a deficit of more than $3 million. Most of the commission’s funding comes from the general fund.

The city plans to make $3.9 million worth of cuts by July 1. The administration proposed eliminating 60 or so jobs to make up that amount but is open to suggestions, including salary and benefit concessions from employees and their unions to reduce or possibly eliminate that number.

If layoffs occur, the first to go are part-timers and seasonal staffers, who largely make up the park and recreation’s work force, Williams said.

A new department director would probably be “in probationary status, and with no seniority, could also be subject to a layoff,” according to the mayor.

Jason Whitehead, Williams’ chief of staff/secretary, has filled the vacant position since May 2007, when Joseph McRae abruptly resigned.

“They agreed to not hire a director until city council and the mayor tell them we’re in a financial position to afford it,” Whitehead said.

Also, the commission opted to rescind a policy it approved Feb. 22, 2007, giving free lifetime use of its facilities for past and present members.

Law Director Iris Torres Guglucello issued a legal opinion March 20 that the commission “had no authority to award themselves the free use of amenities and park facilities and their action in so doing was illegal and the resolution so passed is void.”

The policy violates a city charter provision that “members of the park and recreation commission shall serve without compensation,” she wrote in the legal opinion.

City administrators requested in September that the Ohio Ethics Commission investigate the legality of the policy because two 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 city hasn’t received a report from the commission.

skolnick@vindy.com