Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Video Set
Video Set
Document
2016 Mill Creek MetroParks plan presented by Executive Director, Aaron Young.
CANFIELD
More than 200 community members descended upon the monthly Mill Creek MetroParks Board of Park Commissioners meeting to express outrage, confusion and sadness about recent staff cuts.
The four-hour-plus Monday night meeting was the first since implementation last month of an internal reorganization plan that is slated to save the park district $13.2 million over the next 15 years to make up for a projected capital-improvement shortfall.
Among the dozens who addressed the board in a 2.5-hour-long public-comment session were state Rep. John Boccieri and former park outdoor education manager Ray Novotny, who is one of 13 staffers to be dismissed.
Boccieri of Poland, D-59th, said he and other local representatives have received “countless” emails about the issue.
“I feel these employees should be reinstated,” he said.
Boccieri said he and other state lawmakers are working on legislation that addresses how park commissioners are appointed in Ohio. Park board members are appointed by the county probate judge, rather than elected by voters, a system which some community members have called into question.
Boccieri also noted that he was “outraged” by the handling of the staff cuts. That point raised the ire of many community members after Vindicator reporting revealed that some staff members were summarily dismissed under police supervision.
Novotny, who received two standing ovations from the crowd and several park commissioners, delivered an impassioned speech to park leadership.
“Beginning at the age of 12 I wanted to work in Mill Creek Park. I got that opportunity in 1985. For 30 years, I served the community as best I can. Everybody knows that Volney Rogers started Mill Creek Park as Ohio’s first park district in 1891. You may not know that Ohio had the first naturalist ever, and that was in 1929 with Ernest Vickers. And all these decades later, we have had a full-time naturalist. So you can imagine my surprise on Feb. 12 when I was sat down and told my position was no longer needed,” he said.
He took park leaders to task for their failure so far to give him the status of “naturalist emeritus.” Novotny said he asked for that distinction after his position was cut, and that park Executive Director Aaron Young told him that likely would be granted to him.
Novotny noted a recent interview on Vindy Talk Radio in which Young said “the ball is in [Novotny’s] court” as to whether he wanted to remain involved with the park in the emeritus role or as a volunteer. Novotny said Monday that in fact he had made it clear he wanted the emeritus role, and that attorneys for the park had communicated to him that his request had been rejected.
“I want it to be known that I want to be naturalist emeritus,” he said to cheers from the crowd. “I want to be out there with these people. I want to teach the part-timers. I need to teach them the legacy of this park.”
Board president John Ragan said park leaders will look into the reported hold-up with Novotny’s request.
Prior to public comment, Young and each of the five park commissioners addressed members of the public regarding the restructuring.
Young offered background on the process and decision-making leading to the staff reduction, a review of information about the renewal levy with additional millage that voters approved last fall, and an overview of what he identified as the park system’s financial and organizational challenges (such as the high turnover rate of park directors in recent years, declining revenue and increasing operational costs). He also detailed some of the planned capital improvements.
A common call voiced by many during public comment was for Young’s removal, a move that Ragan said the board is not considering.
More than one person called for the board to fire Young, and hire Keith Kaiser (former horticulture director whose position was eliminated) as executive director.
Ragan and the other four board members individually spoke for about 30 minutes before public comment.
Commissioner Scott Schulick, whose remarks earned applause from many in the crowd, detailed a history of what he characterized as mismanagement of the park, offered a personal apology for the way staff cuts were handled, and challenged the public to remain engaged on issues affecting the park.
“I’ve watched, like so many of you, the many disappointments in the management of the park over the past few years. That’s the reason that I became interested in serving as commissioner,” he said.
“Kicking the can down the road is the way I have described what I’ve observed has been happening to the MetroParks for a very long time,” he said.
“At some point, action is required. ... I want you to know that your voices are being heard, and will continue to be heard. I know many of you feel that your trust has been violated, but I want you to understand that I am personally committed to restoring your confidence in the leadership of Mill Creek MetroParks.”