Young has overstayed welcome at Mill Creek

Young has overstayed welcome at Mill Creek

Upon reading The Vindicator the morning after last Monday’s big community meeting on recent developments at Mill Creek MetroParks, I saw, “He’s broken our confidence. He’s broken public trust.” The words spoken in reference to MetroParks executive director Aaron Young had a strong ring of familiarity, probably because I’m pretty sure I’m the unidentified man who said them.

I said those words then. I stand by them now.

Monday’s meeting was a prelude to this evening’s monthly MetroParks board of commissioners meeting. Despite current budget streamlining, park maintenance staff will do well to run the air conditioning at full bore because the room will be packed with justifiably super-heated community members.

The energy of the 200 people crammed into last Monday’s passionate MetroParks discussion exploded a dozen different ways, but when all the talk was distilled, there was one clear, immediate goal. Aaron Young must resign or be removed as executive director, and there is an enormous pile of evidence to explain why.

For starters, the heavy-handed dismissal conducted with a completely unnecessary police escort of naturalist Ray Novotny and horticulturalist Keith Kaiser has been permanently burned into people’s consciousness. How any capable manager can fire without the slightest notice valuable department heads who collectively gave 60 years of highly regarded service to the park is beyond the pale. The euthanized geese from a couple years ago were afforded more dignity at their termination.

In addition to subsequent dismissals, program terminations, and policy changes, the loss of human capital reflected in volunteers who decided to end their relationship with the park is also a significant casualty of Mr. Young’s decision making. Some place an estimated annual value of $80,000 on park volunteer efforts.

At the bottom line, Mr. Young’s execution of this reorganization plan may indeed induce cost-savings, but only at the price of harvesting a mountain of ill will in the community. There is a feeling of deep betrayal in the 54 percent of the electorate that passed November’s “renewal-plus” MetroParks levy. And while repeal of the levy would be self-defeating, the mere fact that there is an army willing to organize that effort speaks volumes about the community’s anger.

Mr. Young may not realize it, but his ham-fisted manner of implementing MetroParks reorganization has legitimately called into question his effectiveness as an executive director going forward. He has lit a match resulting in a forest fire and even the most reasonable person will not be able to view this situation without overlooking or excusing the damage that has been inflicted. Confidence in his leadership, the overall morale of remaining park employees, the temperament of potential funders, and the public’s trust have all been severely, if not irreparably, impacted.

Public pressure will be applied to park commissioners to see that Mr. Young is shown the door. That same public will also call upon the judge who appoints the commissioners and appeal for their removal if they refuse to engage in this important new element of “reorganization.”

Mr. Young should immediately consult a resume expert. He’s blocking the view of a brighter future for our area’s most cherished natural asset. Once he is dispatched (with or without the same regard he displayed to other park employees), then the community will allow itself to move forward again and embrace the challenges facing Mill Creek MetroParks.

Chris Travers, Youngstown

Editor’s Note: The meeting of the Mill Creek MetroParks board of commissioners is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. today at the MetroParks Farm in Canfield.