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Mill Creek MetroParks board meeting grows raucous
CANFIELD
The Mill Creek MetroParks board meeting several times devolved into jeers, booing and shouts from members of the crowd of several dozen who came to the MetroParks Farm for the monthly event.
Most who spoke Monday night during the public-comment section of the meeting repeated the call for MetroParks Executive Director Aaron Young’s resignation or removal that some community members began after a February staff restructuring cut the positions of 13 park employees.
Some of the same community members voiced the same demand earlier Monday at a protest in front of the Mahoning County Courthouse in Youngstown, which houses the offices of county Probate Judge Robert N. Rusu Jr. Judge Rusu, who was out of the office Monday, is responsible for appointing MetroParks board members and, with the help of a selection committee, currently is working to fill two vacant board seats.
In an interview after the board meeting, board President John Ragan told The Vindicator there are no plans to remove Young from his post.
“They’re just still focused on one item, and that’s to fire Aaron Young. As a board, we have no plans to do that. And actually, I think he’s shown great leadership during this,” Ragan said.
Though the meeting drew a slightly smaller crowd and was not nearly as long as the previous two board meetings, it grew just as heated. The most-heated exchange came when one woman spoke in support of MetroParks leaders.
“You have had to put up with these loudmouths and bullies for months,” she said to the board. “You protesters think you’re the majority. I’ve got news for you: We’re sick of you.”
At one point during her comments – which many people booed and interrupted – another woman stood up, ripped off her MetroParks shirt, tossed it toward the speaker and strode out of the room, seemingly to make the point that she no longer would volunteer for the park district.
One business item that seemed to draw the support of many was the awarding of the naturalist emeritus title to Ray Novotny, whose job as outdoor education manager was eliminated as part of the staff restructuring. The board approved a resolution granting him that status and noting many of his accomplishments over his 30-year career at the park.
In other business, Ragan announced the board will move forward with several changes suggested by outgoing board member Scott Schulick, who recently resigned his seat. He also highlighted the recent addition of a public-information page to the MetroParks website.
The initiatives the board will pursue are: enrolling the MetroParks in Ohio’s online open-checkbook program; hosting a board retreat; and updating outdated board policies and procedures.
“We’ve been listening. We really do hear you, even though you don’t think we do,” Ragan said.
Also, the board approved the appointment of Mark Mrofchak, a certified public accountant who worked for 30 years at the state auditor’s office, as interim finance director at a pay rate of $27.19 per hour. He will fulfill some of the responsibilities that belonged to Kevin Smith, the MetroParks administrative director and treasurer who recently resigned.
Also Monday, state Rep. John Boccieri of Boardman, D-33rd, drew attention to House Bill 561, which he wrote. The legislation would require probate judges to seek input from citizens groups when making park-board appointments, and would make county commissioners responsible for board appointments beyond the initial three members.
“Permitting citizen involvement in the appointment process is important, especially as it related to parks,” Boccieri said in a release. “Commissioners appoint members for every other board in the county and can be responsive during controversial decisions. They should have a voice in the process as the fiscal stewards of the county.”