City launches investigation after Parks Commission mailer included political ad; council moves parks under service director

Barberton—s finance director and council confronted a Parks Department mailer that contained a political advertisement paid with city funds, prompting an internal investigation and proposals to change the Parks Commission—s authority.

Jeremy Flaker, Barberton—s finance director, told council on Sept. 2 that he had contacted the state auditor—s office after learning a political ad had been printed and mailed from the Parks Department—s program guide. Flaker said the city—s next audit may include a —finding for recovery— and that an investigation would determine who is fiscally responsible to reimburse the city. —Once the investigation figures out who—s at fault, that is where the finding for recovery will fall on,— Flaker said.

The incident touched off a heated council debate about oversight and the Parks Commission—s role. Councilmember Heideck introduced a charter amendment proposal that would eliminate the elected Parks Commission and place parks and recreation under a director reporting to a city department head. Members of the Parks Commission and volunteers attended the meeting to respond.

Parks Commission Chair Dan Norr and commission members said the mailing was an unintended error and urged council to give the commission time to reorganize and correct procedures. A Parks commissioner who spoke at length said the mailer —was not done intentionally— and described the staff—s extensive programming work and volunteer support for senior and community events.

Flaker said the city is ‘‘trying to get ahead of this before the state auditors get it—— and added that the consultants he consulted gave mixed views on liability: one said the finance director could be held fiscally responsible while another said the finding would fall on the person who approved the mailing.

Several council members cited prior problems with Parks Commission communication and attendance, and some said the Charter Review Commission had earlier recommended structural change. After debate, councilmembers moved to amend the submitted charter amendment so that the parks director and department would report to the service director rather than the director of public safety. The committee voted to call the amended amendment out of committee.

Key governance steps taken at the meeting: - Council received notice of an internal investigation and the likely state auditor review that could produce a finding for recovery. - Council amended a proposed charter change so that authority over parks and recreation would be placed under the service director (the committee voted to call that amended ordinance out of committee).

Why it matters: The matter raises fiscal, legal and governance questions about city-paid communications, the use of public funds for material that includes political content, and how volunteer boards should be supervised. Pending the investigation, the city may seek reimbursement if the auditor determines an improper use of funds.