Mill Creek announces more dismissals, discount cuts; fallout continues

YOUNGSTOWN

Mill Creek MetroParks’ staff shake-up continued this week with four additional dismissals.

The park system eliminated the positions of plant curator Ellen Speicher, ranger Vince Thomas, development assistant Lanore Jones and gardener Beth Molvin, said Mill Creek MetroParks Executive Director Aaron Young.

Those positions were part-time jobs at Fellows Riverside Gardens, which, along with the operations department, took the brunt of staff cuts. Of eight other employees dismissed last week, two worked at the Gardens – including longtime horticulture director Keith Kaiser.

The park system cut five operations positions last week, including operations director Perry Toth’s job, and veteran outdoor education manager Ray Novotny’s position was eliminated from the recreation and education department.

Some who were dismissed from their positions were offered the opportunity to fill other vacant positions with the park if they were qualified; others were offered severance packages.

In addition to job eliminations, two park employees – volunteer coordinator Bridget Beck and exhibits coordinator Norma Roden – resigned their posts. The Vindicator also heard multiple reports that some volunteers had chosen to end their association with the park system in response to the job eliminations.

Jeff Harvey, president of the Audubon Society/Mahoning Valley, who volunteers to lead some of the nature center’s programs, said he no longer will volunteer after he wraps up his current commitments to the park.

“Why should I volunteer my time when they don’t even show an interest in having a full-time naturalist?” he asked. “When you get rid of your naturalist – an award-winning naturalist like Ray Novotny – you’re saying you don’t care about wildlife education.”

The metroparks also recently implemented a new rental facility discount policy that reduces the discount rate that nonprofit organizations receive.

The park board adopted the new policy at a meeting Feb. 8 at which it also approved a 2016 budget that again trims spending, and approved a change in wage rates for seasonal and part-time workers. It was in executive session at that meeting that the board heard from Executive Director Aaron Young about the “internal reorganization” plan that led to elimination of the 12 park jobs in the last week.

For more on the situation, read Saturday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.