Letters to Editor
Community Matters
Last Thursday, April 29, The League of Women Voters of Geauga County, a non-partisan political organization, held their annual Free Speech Forum.
This year’s topic was about many recent changes regarding our Geauga Park District.
We invited four panelists to speak on the issue: two from the Geauga Park District and two from Protect Geauga Parks. Unfortunately, the Park District declined our invitation to hold a frank discussion about the public’s concerns, which are many.
Because the LWV’s Free Speech Forum is modeled after The Cleveland City Club, our policy is the same: To let the attending speakers continue with their presentation in spite of the park district’s refusal to participate.
We wish to thank Shelly Chernin and John Augustine, the two panelists representing Protect Geauga Parks, for their comprehensive coverage of the main issue: that the original mission statement for the parks, is to protect, conserve and preserve and should be reinstated.
We also wish to thank the Sisters of Notre Dame for graciously allowing the LWV to hold our forum in their lovely facility. And, thanks, too, to all those who attended and contributed to the discussion with their questions and comments. It’s always good to see that citizens are concerned with community matters and make the effort to educate themselves about the issues that affect our county, our environment and the quality of our lives.
Rosemary Balazs, President
League of Women Voters of Geauga County
Invitation Declined
Our deepest gratitude to the Geauga League of Women Voters for initiating and running an excellent program, and many thanks to the Sisters of Notre Dame for allowing the use of their beautiful meeting space for the LWV Free Speech Forum.
Ms. Chernin and Mr. Augustine did an excellent job of answering questions on the topic of “Recent Changes in the Geauga Parks.”
Protect Geauga Parks would have loved this to be an actual “forum.” Unfortunately, John Oros declined the invitation from the LWV for any representatives of Geauga Park District to participate, saying the public is welcome to attend their board meetings where they can control the meeting.
This comment makes one wonder just what it is that frightens the GPD interim director and his boss about the light of public scrutiny. What is it that is so scary about citizens asking civil questions in a public forum?
It is not clear if Mr. Oros neglected to pass along the invitation to the all of the board members. It is clear at least one board member was not notified of the invitation. Could it be the judge made that decision to once again thwart public participation?
Channeling Marie Antoinette, Park Commissioner Mary Ruth Shumway commented after the decision was announced that the program would be a “waste of time.” Evidently, she believes that concerns over park management do not exist. If only she would have attended the forum, perhaps she could have learned that valid concerns do exist.
Or, perhaps, she could have given some proof that conservation is indeed still the foremost purpose of our park district and that the board is actively working to assure real science-based protections for the primary purpose of conservation of our parks and the biodiversity that they protect for the future.
No, instead, she once again trotted out the judge’s misleading numbers saying that “only 3 percent is developed.” (Actually, 3 percent of the current land in the parks is actively covered with roof, mowed lawn or pavement.)
What the judge’s factoid fails to account for is thousands of yards surrounding each covered area which are deeply impacted by that built surface.
The fact we love and support our parks came through as clear as a bell last night (April 29). The park staff and the wonderful work done for over 50 years was honored by the representatives of Protect Geauga Parks.
It was made clear, however, the ham-handed changes to the bylaws which put the primary goal of conservation at risk must be addressed. Note that there have been more changes made to the park bylaws in the past 12 months than there had been in the previous 20 years, all made by a revolving door board with zero experience in conservation or park management.
Thank you to all who attended.
Kathryn Hanratty
Chardon Township
