A Man of his Word

Before Mayor Cicchinelli convinced Massillon City Council to merge the Legends of Massillon Golf Course with the Parks and Recreation Department, he approached the "independent" Parks and Recreation Board to accept the merger first. The Massillon Parks and Recreation Board is the five member board, created by state law, that in theory runs the parks and recreation department. In practice, they control very little.

Judge John Haas ruled last month that the Mayor and City Council can sell off park assets, and keep the money for the City's operations, without returning it to the parks department. Three members of this board are appointed by the Mayor, without city council approval. City council has since amended this local law, and now has the right to approve or deny a future mayoral appointment. The other two positions are appointed by the Massillon Board of Education. As with our current city council, the Mayor has a working majority on the parks board and can pass most anything he wants.

As we delve into the minutes of the Parks Board, let's see what our Mayor for Life told them when he pitched the idea of unloading the debt ridden golf course onto the back of our parks department.

From the November 14, 2002, Parks and Recreation Board Minutes;

"The Mayor explained that the merging of these two areas will maximize resources of the current departments and provide an organizational structure which will promote efficient operations giving top notch service to the public. The Mayor believes this decision now, in the long term, will be beneficial to everyone, and he stated that they promised the citizens that the City would not subsidize this golf course."

... and he stated that they promised the citizens that the City would not subsidize this golf course.

As we know the Mayor to be a man of his word, can the citizens have their parks money back? The parks are a mess, and they could really use some maintenance and upkeep.