Search now on for two Mill Creek Park commissioners
After a second member of the Mill Creek MetroParks Board of Commissioners handed in his resignation, Judge Robert Rusu has an extra spot to fill.
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - After a second member of the Mill Creek MetroParks Board of Commissioners handed in his resignation, Judge Robert Rusu has an extra spot to fill.
On Thursday, Judge Rusu began soliciting candidates to fill the remaining three-year term of Michael Senchak, who resigned in March. Now, he has to find a candidate to replace commissioner Scott Schulick, as well.
Schulick turned in his letter of resignation to Rusu on Friday, calling the park's challenges "more than overwhelming."
Schulick tells 21 News the decision to step down wasn't easy but, he says after witnessing personal attacks to park staff, coupled with what he felt are unreasonable expectations from the public, it was the right choice.
"Everyone has a right to an opinion and to be frustrated but, when it makes it difficult for work to actually be completed that's when its time to look at things a little different way," said Schulick.
Like other park board members Schulick, who is Vice President of Investments with Stifel of Canfield, serves without pay.
At a park board meeting earlier this month, Schulick introduced a new proposal calling for better communication and an update in board procedures, structure and policies.
"Those are tedious kinds of tasks that take a lot of time and a lot of effort and in the meantime, it seems that the park is being attacked on every front," said Schulick.
Some members of the community are unhappy about recent activities of the park board and its Executive Director, Aaron Young.
Judge Rusu has received letters and phone calls from people calling for the removal or resignation of Young and members of the board. Rusu says he is disappointed to see Shulick go but, with a screening committee already in place they will simply select two replacements rather than one.
"I know it's a very hostile environment, the two commissioners that have stepped down have expressed that. These are unpaid, volunteer positions, and so I dont want anybody to be chased away," said Rusu.
People attending recent park board meetings have complained about a decision to lay off more than a dozen park employees.
Chris and Judy Peyko are among a group that's been openly critical of the park's leadership and feel the recent resignations are a step in the right direction.
"I think they all should be removed. I think if they're not going to resign, Judge Rusu should remove them all," said Judy Peyko of Concerned Citizens of Mill Creek Metroparks.
"Judge Rusu has indicated that he wants community involvement in selecting the new board members and we hope that those board members that are selected will be sympathetic to what we want," said Chris Peyko of Concerned Citizens of Mill Creek Metroparks.
Schulick has agreed to remain on the board until his successor is chosen. Rusu said he hopes to have a new board member in place by June.
In an effort he says is designed to keep the selection process transparent, Judge Rusu has created a screening committee to help narrow down the field of applicants.
According to Rusu, the park has had eight executive directors over the past 10 years, so it has suffered from a lack of steady leadership. He said that the park's problems didn't begin with one executive director laying some people off.
