Boccieri to reintroduce park board proposal next year

Staff report

COLUMBUS

Proposed legislation to change the appointment process for park district boards received its first hearing in the House Local Government Committee on Tuesday, state Rep. John Boccieri of Poland, D-59th, announced.

Boccieri introduced House Bill 561, cosponsored by Rep. Kathleen Clyde, D-Kent, in May.

The legislation would require probate judges to seek input from citizens’ groups when appointing people to park boards. It would also transfer appointment authority from probate judges to county commissioners for additional board members selected beyond an initial three members.

Boccieri drafted the legislation after constituents contacted him about Mill Creek MetroParks, with some people calling for changes to the appointment process that would make park leaders more accountable to the public.

“I am happy to see that HB 561 was granted the first hearing it deserves,” Boccieri said in a news release Tuesday. “This legislation will improve the accountability of MetroPark boards by taking into account the fact that probate judges, as the board appointing authority, cannot be out in front on controversial issues because they’re bound by judicial restraint. Transferring some appointment authority to county commissioners will improve the transparency of these boards.”

He added: “Commissioners appoint members for every other board in the county and can be responsive during controversial decisions. As the fiscal stewards of the county, they should have a voice in the process.”

The release also noted that, given that the current General Assembly session ends in January, Boccieri will reintroduce the bill next year. It also notes that the legislation has the support of Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan of Youngstown, D-58th.