Porter County Parks Superintendent Ed Melendez tendered his resignation on Thursday, saying that it’s time for him to pursue other opportunities and challenges after 10 years in the post.

Melendez was not in attendance at Thursday’s Porter County Park Board meeting due to a family matter out of state, but Park Board President Rich Hudson read a letter from Melendez announcing his resignation, effective no later than Dec. 31. The park board accepted the resignation.

Melendez, who was back in the park office today, said this morning that family concerns played a big role in his decision to leave. With the recent death of one parent and with one of his grown children moving away, Melendez said he and his wife feel a need to spend as much quality time as possible with family members. “Family was a major concern,” he said.

Melendez said that when the Porter County job opened up, he was intrigued because the department was so young -- he was hired as only the second park superintendent in the department’s history -- and that he saw the position as an opportunity for him to help grow a small park system. But he also said that he misses some of the work he handled in his previous work at the municipal park level, citing in particular his work with professional sports leagues. “I really miss that,” he said.

Melendez said his family concerns, coupled with his desire to seek other park opportunities, made this a good time for him to move on and for the Porter County Parks Department to get “new fresh blood” to take the county parks to its next level.

The park board appointed a committee to review the park superintendent’s job description as part of the transition for a new park superintendent. The committee, made up of board members Annetta Jones, David Canright and Hudson, will meet at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the County Administration Center.

Park board members warmly praised Melendez for his years of service to the park department, but some discontent emerged, after audience member Kris Owens sought assurances that the park board did not ask Melendez to leave.

Park Board Attorney Dave Hollenbeck advised the park board not to respond, on the grounds that issues surrounding a resignation constitute a personnel matter. It’s up to Melendez, not the park board, to give a statement, he said.

Owens, the husband of the park department’s administrative assistant and a parks volunteer, said there have been a number of dedicated park board members over the years, but that for far too long, the park board has been “lacking in leadership.”

Owens credited Melendez with growing the parks department and gaining recognition for the county parks, despite what he said has been the lack of support and guidance from the park board and the Porter County Parks Foundation. He cited one pending park project in particular -- the proposed new county park on the grounds of the former County Home -- as one that’s been stalled.

Park board members did not respond to Owens’ criticisms.

Board members did praise Melendez for his years of service. Hudson cited a number of park achievements over the years, including the establishment of the Holiday Lights Festival, the acquisition of the long-pending Traeger property, and the expansion of utilities and infrastructure throughout the parks.

“We look like a park system now,” he said. “I can go on (about Melendez’ achievements), and the list can be very long.”

Jones said that Melendez has been instrumental in pursuing land acquisition for the county parks, particularly at a time of increasing development in the county. Board member Christine Aylesworth agreed that Melendez’ work in land acquisition has been crucial, and she credited Melendez for keeping the parks “in the forefront of the community.”

Canright said that when he first came on the board, the board had to deal with the “albatross” of what to do with the former Murray House and the park’s barn, and that the task fell onto Melendez as well once he was hired. He said it’s positive that the park department has now been able to deal with those two building projects and move forward. (The Murray House has been demolished, and plans are pending for a new barn-style meeting facility).

In his resignation letter, Melendez said he is leaving the park department “well positioned to fulfill its mission and contribute significantly to the quality of life in Porter County.” He will continue working as superintendent and help in the transition.

Hollenbeck said that as the park board looks to the transition, it will need to consider several issues, such as whether there is still a need for the park superintendent to live on the grounds of Sunset Hill Farm County Park. If not, then salary levels will need to be considered. Hollenbeck also said that it will be important to review the park superintendent’s job description, noting that the duties of the position have grown and changed considerably over the years.

Posted 9/4/2009