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MetroParks severance agreements finalized
CANFIELD
Mill Creek MetroParks recently finalized agreements with the last of the former park employees who had held off on signing severance or transfer agreements after a staff restructuring implemented in February eliminated 13 positions.
The MetroParks this week received a thank-you letter from former outdoor education manager Ray Novotny’s attorney, capping off negotiations in which the MetroParks agreed to grant Novotny the honorary title of “naturalist emeritus” as part of his severance package.
The MetroParks board approved and read aloud a resolution – which noted many of Novotny’s accomplishments during his 30-year career at the park system – to that effect at its May 16 board meeting. After passage of that resolution, according to the agreement, Novotny’s attorney was required to “send a letter to [MetroParks Executive Director] Aaron Young and the board expressing his appreciation to them for coming to an amicable resolution on this issue.”
The clause also stipulated that Novotny “make no public comments at the above described meeting.”
His attorney’s letter to Young and the board, dated May 18, reads: “This correspondence is to express the appreciation of Raymond Novotny for reaching an amicable resolution and for bestowing the honorary title of Naturalist Emeritus. Thank you for your cooperation in resolving this matter.”
Young told The Vindicator the thank-you-note stipulation was included in the agreement to “demonstrate the good will. There was a lot of false accusations being made out in the public, and it’s important to note that Ray and the MetroParks were on the same page.”
Young declined to comment on the stipulation that Novotny not speak at the board meeting. Novotny declined to comment for this story.
Keith Kaiser, former MetroParks horticulture director, also recently finalized his separation from the park, according to a signed severance agreement dated May 17.
Kaiser and Novotny, as well as the other full-time employees who entered into severance agreements with the MetroParks, will be paid at their most-recent salary rate for six months after their effective resignation date. They also will receive payment for “any unused but accrued vacation time to the employee’s credit and any other separation pay due under the employer’s current policies.”
Kaiser was paid $67,080 annually; Novotny, $52,650. With associated costs such as health care, Kaiser’s position cost the MetroParks $94,054 annually and Novotny’s cost $74,004, according to information provided by the MetroParks.
Part-time employees whose positions were eliminated were offered three months’ pay.
Of the 13 employees whose jobs were affected by the staff restructuring, 11 signed severance agreements. All are bound by nondisparagement/nondisclosure clauses that prohibit the MetroParks and employees from disparaging one another, and which forbids the employees from discussing their severance agreements with anyone other than spouses, accountants and legal counsels.
Ellen Speicher, a former part-time plant curator, declined to sign an agreement.
Perry Toth, former MetroParks operations director, on April 21 signed a transfer agreement to take a full-time skilled-maintenance job that pays $17.73 per hour. Toth made $73,840 per year as operations director.
Four other employees impacted by the internal reorganization were given the option to transfer to other MetroParks positions but declined to do so.