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Springfield senior center director resigns

9/20/2012 - South Side Leader
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By Maria Lindsay

Boyd Esler Senior and Community Center Director Bobby Dinkins has resigned his position, effective Sept. 28, to take a job with the All-American Soap Box Derby.
File photo
SPRINGFIELD — Boyd Esler Senior and Community Center Director Bobby Dinkins, appointed to the position in July 2009, is leaving to take a new job with the All-American Soap Box Derby.

Dinkins informed trustees of his new job and trustees met in executive session after the regular Sept. 13 meeting to review the matter. Trustees accepted his resignation, effective Sept. 28.

“I have enjoyed my time here working for the center and the township,” said Dinkins. “We were able to accomplish a lot in these three years, and the staff has been tremendous to work with.

“I grew up three blocks from Derby Downs and watching all the activity, and I am looking forward to working with their staff to broaden the reach of the derby and develop more partnerships.”

Dinkins presided over a number of changes at the center, including broadening its focus to include activities for the community at large instead of activities just for seniors. One of his most recent efforts included creating an outdoor fitness park with several pieces of equipment for older adults next to the center.

Trustee Dean Young said Dinkins will be “hard to replace.”

“Springfield’s loss is the Soap Box Derby’s gain,” he said. “Bobby did a tremendous job making the senior center into a community center. We are disappointed to lose him.”

Young said Dinkins was successful in winning grants — one for the adult exercise park and another for outdoor restrooms there. He also said Dinkins did more than his job required, taking on the supervision of the Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) Park on Pickle Road and increasing its use by local youth and recreation programs, and generating $9,000 through tournament team events. Young said Dinkins helped a youth league generate $15,000 through the establishment of a concessions stand there.

Young said township officials have not yet decided how to replace Dinkins.

During the regular board meeting prior to the executive session, trustees met without one of its three members, as Trustee Bruce Killian was absent due to a death in his family.

Young and Trustee Deborah Davis approved:

• a bid of $12,550 from Carpenter Asphalt Sealer Co. for sealing all township parking lots, including those at Town Hall and the Boyd Esler Senior and Community Center, and the JEDD Park;

• expenditures for the Springfield Fire Department of $1,461 for annual maintenance and repairs to tower truck 3119 and $1,824 to purchase firefighter turnout gear;

• an amendment to a motion from the last meeting on the Conversion Plan regarding employee benefits to add conversion of holiday leave and compensatory time to Ohio Public Employees Retirement System for pay in lieu of cash payouts; and

• a request for the Summit County Engineer’s Office to do a drainage study on the Armil Drive right-of-way to evaluate stormwater runoff and also a traffic count at the corner of Killian and Pickle roads to determine if a traffic light is warranted at that intersection.

During the police report, Police Chief John Smith discussed scams and reminded residents to never give out a Social Security number, check routing number or a birth date to anyone over the phone. He also discussed lottery winnings notifications and said, “If you did not play [buy a ticket], you cannot win,” and added that residents should never pay to receive lottery winnings.

The next regular trustees’ meeting will take place Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 2459 Canfield Road.

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