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Mill Creek MetroParks board must now sign off on hunting and trapping
CANFIELD
The Mill Creek MetroParks board now must sign off on all hunting and trapping permits, a power that previously was delegated to the executive director.
Individuals seeking permission to hunt or trap must get “advance written permission of the executive director” and the park board rather than just from the director, per a motion unanimously approved at Monday’s park board meeting.
Board member Tom Shipka proposed the policy change. He previously proposed another resolution limiting the executive director’s powers, with the board approving a motion last year requiring the director to get public board approval for significant decisions.
The board also approved an amendment that exempts the park police from the wildlife policy in emergency situations, such as if they must euthanize a severely injured animal.
Implementation of a goose kill in June 2014 without formal board approval led to widespread outcry in the community.
Also Monday, the park board had its first work session, keeping in line with a new meeting structure that went into effect at the start of the year.
The every-other-month sessions are meant to give the board a chance for more in-depth discussion of park matters, and to allow time for informative presentations from outside groups, staff members and new standing advisory committees that also began at the start of this year.
Shipka, who proposed the new structure that the board OK’d last summer, expressed satisfaction with the first work session.
“I think it was very informative for the board. We learned a lot in one night,” he said. “My hope is in future work sessions we’ll learn a great deal more.”
The meeting featured detailed rundowns on MetroParks land and nature education from planning and operations director Steve Avery and recreation and education director Carol Vigorito, respectively.
Avery’s presentation on park land went over state laws governing land acquisition and sales, the park’s mission, a history of the park and an overview of what properties the park owns. The MetroParks encompasses more than 5,000 acres of owned, leased or conserved land, with about 12 key properties such as Fellows Riverside Gardens, the Lily Pond and Ford Nature Center.
Avery noted that while the MetroParks seeks to acquire strategic properties that fit with the park’s mission, there are no plans at this time for any large property acquisition.
Vigorito gave a detailed history of nature education from the park’s founding in 1891 until present, and explained that in the future the goal is to offer cohesive, parkwide nature education rather than piecemeal programs at different park locations.
“In past years, we operated in silos,” she said. “What is needed in order to respond to what the community needs is a comprehensive approach.”
“I wanted to impress that nature education is throughout the park, not just at one facility,” she told the board.
Also, the board elected new officers, approving Lee Frey as board president.