Bath Hires Service Director, But Not Without Controversy

Bath Township Trustees voted 2-1 to hire a new service director Monday, filling a three-month vacancy in the post.

Caine Collins, who is currently the service director in Green, Ohio, will get the $37,50-an-hour job of overseeing the township's service department.

He will start May 1.

The hiring came over the objections of Trustee Elaina Goodrich, who said she believes Mike Rorar -- Bath's parks director and assistant service director who has been filling in as interim service director -- should get the position.

"He's done a great job," Goodrich said. "In all these years, I've never heard a resident complain about him."

She said Rorar has overseen development of Bath's parks from 40 acres to 500 acres in his 16 years with the township and said his "loyalty, dedication and professionalism," coupled with the good job he has done as interim service director, should earn him the post.

Trustee Becky Corbett agreed that Rorar "has done a wonderful job and continues to do so," but said the decision came down to "experience and qualifications."

"I think (Collins') experience and qualifications speak for themselves," Corbett said.

Collins has a master's degree in public administration and, in addition to his current post in Green, worked for the Summit County Engineer's Department and as construction coordinator for the Summit County Metro Parks.

He also serves in the Ohio Army National Guard and, in that role, oversaw $15 million worth of construction projects in Iraq.

Former Service Director Bob Wilson retired at the end of last year. Rorar was appointed to the interim post.

Interim Township Administrator Bill Snow said more than 30 people applied for the job, and the township held interviews, gave the candidates written exercises to complete and did background checks before recommending Collins.

Rorar was hired as the parks director, but about three years ago was also given the position of assistant service director.

Goodrich said he now spends about half his time on parks and half in the service department.