Letters to Editor
Blame Lawton
Regarding Glen Millers article, Amish Historical Center Concept Shifts to Smaller Projects, in the Nov. 14 issue, we find it hard to believe that Mr. Miller could write an article repeating what Ken Lawton wrote him in an email without first checking the facts.
In this email, Mr. Lawton writes he blames the Amish Heritage Center’s failure on the Amish. We, as non-Amish members of the Amish Heritage Center planning committee, can say: Mr. Lawton can only blame himself.
The truth is the planning for the Amish Heritage Center began in Burton at the Geauga County Historical Society Century Village Museum, which it was to be a part of. After a time, the Geauga County Historical Society asked Mr. Lawton to produce evidence his organization was a properly approved 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization through the IRS. This proof was not forthcoming nor was any financial transparency.
Without a word, Mr. Lawton ceased contact with them and began negotiations with Donna Vancura to rent the gallery building she was ready to lease in Middlefield.
After months of meetings and planning there (even a visit to the mayor’s office), and Mr. Lawton’s continued insistence that funding was no problem, the Amish commitee members asked Mr. Lawton in May of 2012 to attend a meeting with them and present accurate financial transparency.
Mr. Lawton never showed up for the meeting and never excused himself.
Dieter and Nancy Huth
Middlefield Village
Bring Back Curtin
I read with dismay about the abrupt contract non-renewal of Tom Curtin from the position of executive director of the Geauga Park District.
As a 34-year resident of Geauga County, I have watched with pride the growth and expansion of the park system in both facilities and programs.
Geauga parks are an important part of the county in the mission to preserve our natural environment and educate our residents. The recent additions of the Frohring Meadows and Observatory Park to the facilities add significant value to this important county asset.
While Tom Curtin will certainly say the park departments accomplishments during his tenure are the result of dedicated staff and volunteers, those accomplishments take strong and visionary leaders. Tom has provided that kind of leadership during his 14-year tenure. His dismissal with no explanation makes me wonder what political agenda is being executed by Commissioners Nick Fischbach and Michael Petruzielo.
When Commissioner Jim Patterson questioned the decision, he was told there would be no public discussion before voting on the contract renewal. He was outvoted 2 to 1.
As a citizen of Geauga County, I believe our county officials should have open communications regarding such actions. Decisions made in secret with no public input do not represent the type of governance that Geauga County residents expect. It reminds me of two Bainbridge Township trustees who were removed from office by voters not that long ago because of similar actions.
Although park district commissioners are not elected, Judge Tim Grendell who appointed Mr. Fischbach and Mr. Petruzielo should look carefully at who he appoints in the future since his is an elected position.
The Geauga Park District is strongly supported by Geauga County residents and Judge Grendell should appoint commissioners who understand and support the park mission. Tom Curtins contract should be renewed.
Keith Mast
Bainbridge Township
Buried Cars, Misplaced Firearms
In answer to Mr. Leech and others who are shocked and very angry about the termination of Tom Curtin as the executive director of Geauga Park District, I say that you should get your facts straight.
The park district Board of Commissioners chose not to renew his contract when it expires on Dec. 31. He was placed on paid administrative leave through the end of his contract; he was not terminated.
In the year that I have been a park commissioner, my eyes have been opened to several examples of wrongdoing, some of which may have happened under Mr. Leechs watch.
I attempted to get to the bottom of one such matter when I opened an investigation into the handling of the Felkin Estate by the executive director. I had begun to hear what I thought were wild allegations about cars being buried and firearms misplaced.
None of the storied added up and I suggested that the board should have an impartial, independent investigation done by someone outside the county who had no vested interest in the matter. The investigation yielded astounding information and was a large factor in our decision not to renew Mr. Curtins contract.
Some of the findings were that a car with its tires still on it was ordered buried by Tom Curtin at the Felkin property on Bradford Drive in Munson Township. The Felkins personal property, which was left to the park district by Donald and Dorothy Felkin, was never probated and the estate could have been contested. Firearms, including a Thompson submachine gun, that were part of the estate were negligently mishandled and to this day have not been adequately accounted for.
The park districts legal counsel advised the director to rectify the probate issue in 2008 but was ignored. Federal, state and local laws, as well as park regulations, were broken.
This happened several years ago and was not corrected until after the investigation was just recently completed. Mr. Curtin did not feel that any of these issues were serious, but two of the three park commissioners did.
After much thought and consideration, Mike Petruziello and I voted not to renew Tom Curtins contract after its expiration, as we felt it was in the best interests of both the park district and Mr. Curtin himself to end our relationship.
Mr. Leechs opinion that there were no grounds for this action is ridiculous. Public officials must be held to a high ethical standard. As park commissioners, it is our duty to uphold these high standards on behalf of the taxpayers of Geauga County and not try to simply sweep such issues under the rug.
Nicholas Fischbach
GPD Commissioner
Burton
Where Were You
The only things shocking about the letter from John Leech, a former Geauga Park District commissioner, in last weeks paper is Mr. Leechs failure to tell your readers he is the president of an organization that is seeking to receive over a $100,000 fee from the park district. That sum is quite an incentive to want to keep a friendly park director. One wonders how much Mr. Leechs other organization received of taxpayers money when he was sitting as director of both boards at the same time?
Mr. Leech served on the Geauga park board, but did nothing when the park district under Tom Curtins leadership illegally buried a car on park property and converted private property without going through the probate court, as required by Ohio Law.
Also, while Mr. Curtin was director, the park district wasted over $400,000 of Geauga County taxpayers money on a mishandled employment matter, with much of that money going to attorneys. Isnt Mr. Leech a lawyer?
Former Park Commissioner Leech, where were you when all this happened? Didnt you, as a watchdog for the people of Geauga County, have a duty to supervise Mr. Curtin more closely?
At least the park commissioners appointed by Judge Tim Grendell are doing their job and protecting Geauga County taxpayers from these types of shenanigans.
From the Geauga taxpayers perspective, it looks like the two commissioners who voted not to renew Mr. Curtins one-sided contract of well over $100,000 including benefits made the right decision.
Robert and Esther Laczko
Chardon Township
