Thursday, April 7, 2016
POLAND
Poland village officials this week expressed their “regret” over two staff cuts included in Mill Creek MetroParks’ February restructuring.
In a public letter signed by members of village council and the forest board, officials expressed “our thanks on behalf of the people of Poland for the help given generously in our Village and Municipal Forest by Ray Novotny and James Brammer, and [our regret] over the loss of such competent and loyal employees for the entire community.”
Novotny is the former outdoor education manager for the MetroParks, and Brammer is the former forestry supervisor. Their positions were eliminated as part of the park system’s internal reorganization that is slated to save $13.2 million over the next 15 years for capital improvements.
The letter, which is addressed to Brammer, Novotny and the Mill Creek MetroParks Board of Park Commissioners, details contributions made by them both.
“Ray Novotny is an outstanding professional naturalist who also has the gift of sharing both knowledge and excitement – and is able to do this with kids, with seniors, and everyone in between. He was of great help in organizing the Poland Forest photography exhibit. His visits to Poland Woods invariably have drawn banner crowds, but he also led volunteers in a successful search through thorns and wetlands for the famous Globeflower,” it reads. “Ray’s interest in reptiles and amphibians has made him both an expert and a mentor to others; his ‘kids’ found a county record salamander in the Forest. His gifts will be sorely missed here and throughout Mahoning County.”
The letter notes that Brammer serves in a voluntary capacity as tree commissioner and forest board member for the village.
“He has shown himself to be capable, responsive, and concerned for others. We lament his loss to the MetroParks and hope that his next position will allow Poland to retain his help,” it reads.
The letter concludes by noting the contributions made by other MetroParks employees whose positions were eliminated: “Other departing MetroParks employees have served our community by giving advice on horticulture, garden design and plant suitability – all fields in which their personal experience has been much more valuable than guidebook information. Their loss will be felt by all who want to spread natural beauty throughout our community.”
Joe Mazur, village council president and member of the forest board, said it was important to acknowledge the work of those former MetroParks employees.
“Ray Novotny is a class act. I’ve known him for a long time. I’ve been on tours with him, and he knows his onions,” he told The Vindicator. “And Jim is on our forest board as a volunteer. He comes to every meeting. ... He doesn’t get paid – he just volunteers. He knows his stuff, too. They both got a bum deal.”
Mazur said he and other village officials did not like the way the staff cuts were handled (Vindicator reporting revealed that some employees were dismissed on-the-spot, while park police officers were made to stand by).
As a taxpayer, Mazur said, he would like to see some changes with MetroParks leadership.
“I would like to see more transparency and more representation for those [who] pay taxes into it. I think that’s important,” he said.