UPDATE | Large crowd attends first Mill Creek MetroParks meeting with new board members

CANFIELD — The regular monthly meeting of the Mill Creek MetroParks board has again drawn a large crowd, as it has since a controversial February internal reorganization eliminated the positions of 13 park employees. 

Tonight's meeting at the MetroParks Farm is packed with a crowd of about 100 people. 

The first item of board business was to meet in executive session with the MetroParks' attorney to discuss pending litigation. 

The MetroParks board, board members who were in office during the staff restructuring, and park director Aaron Young are the listed defendants of a lawsuit filed in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court last week that alleges park leaders violated Ohio Sunshine Law in its planning of the restructuring. 

Board president John Ragan also welcomed new members Lee Frey and Tom Shipka, who tonight join the board for the first time.

Meanwhile, Mill Creek MetroParks received resignation letters from two part-time naturalists.

Hillary Lenton and Julie Bartolone recently put in their two weeks’ notice and will work their last day June 23, the MetroParks confirmed to The Vindicator today. 

For the complete story, read Tuesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com