Decision on new Mill Creek director announced before public vote taken

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mill Creek MetroParks board of commissioners failed to follow state law in its selection of a new executive director, the attorney representing The Vindicator and its news partner, 21 WFMJ-TV, said today.

Though the board unanimously voted at a public meeting Monday night to hire Aaron Young to replace Dennis Miller, the actual decision to choose Young was not made in public and therefore is not in accordance with Ohio Sunshine Laws, Atty. David Marburger said.

“The law requires a public body like the park district to make 100 percent of its decisions for the first time in public at a pre-arranged meeting,” Marburger said. “They’re not allowed to decide it before and then have a ceremonial vote. That’s just theater.”

In an interview today, board president Lou Schiavoni disputed the claim the decision was made before Monday’s meeting.

“The meeting of the minds came about on Monday. ... There was never a decision made until our public meeting Monday,” he said.

About 45 minutes before Monday’s public meeting began, however, park spokeswoman Samantha Villella sent out a press release announcing the selection of Young for the position.

Read more of the story in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.