Petruziello, Fischbach Will Step Down from Park Board.
"The past two weeks have witnessed several threats and some personal animosity." Judge Timothy Grendell.
Non-renewal of former executive director's contract leads to three openings on Geauga Park Board in 2014.
Geauga Park District Board Members Mike Petruziello and Nick Fischbach will step down effective Dec. 31, wrote Geauga County Probate and Juvenile Court Judge Timothy Grendell in an editorial to news media Thursday morning.
Petruziello had one year remaining on his term; Fischbach had two.
Both members were Grendell’s first and only two appointments to the board since he became judge in 2011.
After the board voted 2-1 to not renew the contract of former Executive Director Tom Curtin, the action was “met with some public resistance and has generated unfortunate personal rancor between some members of the Park Board,” wrote Grendell.
He continued: “As the appointing authority for the Park Board, I believe that the focus of the process should be solely on the maintenance of our excellent County Parks and not someone’s or some group’s individual agenda. To that end, I want to focus on the future of the Park District through a fresh, new Board of Directors.”
Jim Patterson, who voted to renew Curtin and was appointed by former Judge Charles E. Henry, will also not be renewed, Grendell has said. It was unclear if Patterson was seeking re-appointment. His term expires at the end of this year.
Grendell is seeking letters of interest and resumes from Geauga County residents who are interested in serving on the board. The deadline for submission to the Geauga County Probate Court, 231 Main Street, Suite 200, Chardon, OH 44024, is Jan. 2 by 4:30 p.m.
