The attacks on the Geauga Park District Board of Commissioners’ decision not to renew the contract of Executive Director Tom Curtin have become increasingly personal, said Geauga County Probate Court Judge Tim Grendell.
As a result, the park district’s mission and accomplishments as well as the efforts of its staff are getting lost in the fray, he told the Geauga County Maple Leaf Tuesday.
Therefore, Grendell said he would appoint at least two new park commissioners for 2014, adding he might appoint an entirely new board as well.
Commissioner Mike Petruziello, whose term expires at the end of 2014, has agreed to voluntarily step down from the park board on Dec. 31, the judge said.
Petruziello, who Grendell appointed to the park board last year, was elected to the Chester Township Board of Trustees on Nov. 5. His victory created a potential conflict of interest, according to a 1988 Ohio Attorney’s General opinion, which concluded the positions of township trustee and county park commissioner are incompatible.
In addition, Grendell said park commissioner Nick Fischbach, who is currently mayor of the Village of Burton, must decide by Dec. 31 whether he intends to remain on the park board through the expiration of his term in 2015 or remain mayor.
Grendell has told Fischbach he cannot hold both positions.
The judge also has informed Commissioner Jim Patterson he will not be reappointing him to the park board “at this time,” even though he previously told Patterson he would be reappointed.
In the meantime, Grendell is seeking letters of interest and resumes from any Geauga County resident interested in serving on the park board, which is a three-year term.
The deadline for submissions is 4:30 p.m. Jan. 2. Letters and resumes should be addressed to Judge Timothy J. Grendell and can be mailed to or dropped off at the Geauga County Probate/Juvenile Court, 231 Main Street, Suite 200, Chardon, OH 44024.