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Community members and organizations react to Mill Creek MetroParks dismissals
Mill Creek MetroParks Cuts
Video
Mill Creek MetroParks dismissed several employees Friday in what officials called an “internal reorganization.” A Vindicator reporter and photographer, while working on an unrelated assignment at Fellows Riverside Gardens Friday morning, observed park police officers supervising the dismissal of at least two park employees there.
Hundreds post comments of disappointment, outrage on social media, Vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
Reactions to Mill Creek MetroParks’ dismissal of several veteran staffers continues to dominate social media, even as more dismissals are expected.
Since eight employees were summarily dismissed Friday by Executive Director Aaron Young, community members have expressed disappointment and outrage – in hundreds of comments posted on social media pages and Vindy.com – over how the dismissals were handled.
Commenters seem upset by the manner of dismissal after learning what a Vindicator reporter and photographer witnessed firsthand: That park police officers were made to stand by while those who were dismissed prepared to exit the premises.
Those included in Friday’s firings are: Horticulture Director Keith Kaiser, Outdoor Education Manager Ray Novotny, part-time ranger David Nelis, Operations Director Perry Toth, part-time custodian Tom Chizmar, construction crew supervisor Bob Carbon, shop supervisor Dennis Fahndrich and forestry supervisor James Brammer.
Five of those dismissed were offered other positions at the park. Three were offered severance packages.
Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens – a nonprofit organization that supports the MetroParks’ public gardens – weighed in on the dismissals in a pointed Facebook post.
“Although we have viewed ourselves as partners to the Park for almost 30 years, we were extremely disappointed to have learned about the situation through the media and not through the administration,” reads the post from organization president Paul Hagman.
He went on to thank Kaiser, who also serves on the Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens Board of Trustees.
A news release from a park representative Friday morning announcing an “internal reorganization” plan did not mention the dismissals. Young confirmed in an interview Friday that the plan included the elimination of 15 positions.
On Monday, Young addressed the question of why police were brought in, among other issues, in a letter posted by the MetroParks’ Facebook account.
“The MetroParks police presence on Friday at the meetings with affected staff members was not intended to be the perception that it ultimately portrayed. Police were asked to ensure that no uninvolved staff member or visitor inadvertently interrupt the meetings due to the delicate nature of the topic and out of respect for those involved. They were also asked to assist the affected staff members in any manner that those staff members needed, up to and including being a buffer to any inquiries or untimely questioning,” Young wrote.
“I understand the unintended negative connotation that the involvement of MetroParks Police has had on the perceptions of the day’s events and apologize to those affected staff members if the support that I sought on their behalf contributed to the uncomfortable nature and stress of the situation.”
In the post, Young pointed to the park district’s 2013 Strategic Master Plan, which identifies a need for an organizational culture that is more “adaptable and willing to change to maximize efficiency and leverage resources,” as one reason for his decision.
“The changes that were made on Friday and which will continue is [sic] various ways, aim to address the statement within the 2013 Strategic Plan Master Plan,” Young wrote.
Among those listed as contributing to the plan were Kaiser, Novotny and Toth.
Park representatives have said that the restructuring will save the park district $13 million over 15 years, which will “significantly reduce the anticipated $15 million capital improvement shortfall that was projected over that same time period,” according to a news release.
The 0.25-mill for capital improvements for which the park district got approval in the last election is expected to raise $15 million out of the roughly $30 million the park plans to spend on capital improvements in the next 15 years.
Mill Creek MetroParks frequently touts the district’s success in leveraging third-party donations to supplement its own contributions to capital improvements.
Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens, for example, is slated to contribute $75,000 to capital improvements this year, according to the 2016 budget that the park board approved last week.
Hagman’s Facebook post pointedly discussed the history between the “Friends,” and the MetroParks.
“It is also important to clarify that Friends of Fellows Riverside Gardens is a completely separate entity from Mill Creek MetroParks. Friends is a not-for-profit, supporting and funding entity which has collaborated with the MetroParks for nearly 30 years to bring Fellows where it is today. This collaboration has resulted in Friends having raised and donated millions of dollars for the construction of the D.D. & Velma Davis Education and Visitor’s Center, the improvement of paths for accessibility, and renovations to countless Fellows structures, including the K. Calvin Sommer Fountain and the Gazebo,” it continued.
Representatives of Friends declined to be interviewed, but said they will be meeting with park representatives “to seek out details about the MetroParks’ internal reorganization plan and how it may impact Friends.”
John Ragan, president of the Mill Creek MetroParks Board of Park Commissioners, said in an interview Monday that he’s aware of the community reaction to the dismissals and that, to a certain extent, he expected it.
“Any time we make a decision about cutting staff, it’s difficult. We don’t take that lightly, at all. We agonized over it, to be honest with you,” he said.
“I understand this isn’t a popular decision, and it was by no means an easy decision, but we’re trying to be proactive.”
“Keith, Ray – those guys were dedicated individuals. It’s definitely not personal. ... As a board, we didn’t want it to come off the way it looked,” he said.
He addressed concerns expressed by some that the park and its patrons are losing expertise that they won’t be able to regain, saying: “I understand the concern about losing a lot of knowledge about the park, but I think some of the younger people will step up and fill that void.”
Reached by phone Monday, Mahoning County Probate Judge Robert N. Rusu Jr., who is responsible for appointing park board members, declined to comment on the dismissals.
He said he did not want to second-guess decisions made by the board, and noted that park operations are not part of his role.