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Park director impresses council
YOUNGSTOWN
Members of city council have high expectations for the new park and recreation director.
Robert Burke of Newton Falls, who will start the job Monday, said he is ready to meet and exceed those expectations.
The last park and recreation director retired about five years ago. Jason Whitehead, the mayor’s chief of staff and secretary, took over the job on an interim basis from May 2007 until last August, when new Mayor Charles Sammarone accepted Whitehead’s resignation.
Burke, 43, will be paid $55,000 annually.
He has served as operations manager/overnight supervisor at the NorthEast Ohio Community Alternative Program in Warren, and since October 2004, he’s been the part-time director of the Newton Falls Community Center.
Council members, who met Monday with Burke, said they were impressed with his ideas to create programs for senior citizens, expand sports activities for children and his experience obtaining grant money.
But Councilwoman Janet Tarpley, D-6th and vice chairwoman of the parks and playgrounds committee, said, “We need someone with an understanding of urban youth. He doesn’t have that.”
Burke said he spent two years working with inner-city youth in Toledo while earning a bachelor’s degree in recreation and leisure studies from the University of Toledo. He graduated in 2000.