Germaine Bennett appointed new Mill Creek board commissioner

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Mahoning County Probate Judge Robert N. Rusu Jr. has chosen Germaine Bennett to be the newest commissioner on the Mill Creek MetroParks board, he announced Wednesday.

Bennett, of Youngstown, will fill the unexpired term of Valencia Marrow, who resigned her position for personal reasons.

Marrow, of Youngstown and clerk of Youngstown City Council, was appointed to the board in December 2010. She began a new three-year term at the start of 2014.

Bennett is a longtime educator and administrator for Youngstown City Schools. She works as an educational human-resource consultant since she retired as assistant superintendent of human resources and labor relations for the school system.

She also is involved with many community boards and organizations, such as serving on the board of directors for The Raymond John Wean Foundation and Mercy Health Partners SWO, among others.

Judge Rusu said in a statement that he is “looking forward to Germaine bringing her passion for the city of Youngstown and its residents which will translate into the betterment of Mill Creek Park.”

He also thanked Marrow, saying, “Valencia’s insight and dedication to the board will be missed.”

Bennett joins four other board members: Lou Schiavoni, Dr. Robert Durick, John Ragan and Scott Schulick. Ragan and Schulick were appointed to the board earlier this month, Ragan for another term and Schulick for a new term after replacing Jay Macejko.

Positions on the park board are unpaid and voluntary.