Mill Creek park board fails the transparency test again

After the debacle of the massive Canada geese kill just months ago, you would think that the Mill Creek MetroParks board of commissioners had learned a valuable lesson about the imprudence of conducting the people’s business in private. You would be wrong.

With the memory of 238 geese being gassed to death still fresh in the minds of active supporters of the Green Cathedral, last week’s hiring of a new executive director has caused an uproar that won’t be silenced any time soon.

The park commissioners have only themselves to blame for not fully adhering to Ohio’s Sunshine Law, which demands total transparency in arriving at a decision and then actually voting in a prearranged meeting.

“They’re not allowed to decide before and then have a ceremonial vote,” said Atty. David Marburger of Cleveland, who played a significant role in formulating the state’s open meetings and public records laws. Marburger is with the law firm of BakerHostetler.

Commission’s actions

His comments were made after being told by The Vindicator and 21 WFMJ-TV of the park commission’s actions with regard to the hiring of Aaron Young to replace Dennis Miller, who has resigned to become golf director of The Lake Club in Poland. Young was director of planning and operations at the Geauga Park District.

Although board President Lou Schiavoni, a lawyer, disagreed with Marburger’s opinion, contending that he and his colleagues had not decided to hire Young prior to the public meeting at which a formal vote was taken, commissioners had a special session on Thursday and reconsidered the appointment, employment and compensation of the new executive director.

Now that’s transparency.