Binghamton zoo's leadership faulted at meeting

The Press & Sun-Bulletin reported on the annual meeting of the Southern Tier Zoological Society.

The intent of the gathering was for Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park members to get a wrap-up of the year and listen to projections for 2012, interim Executive Director Dave Conklin said. While that discussion did take place, the meeting also took another turn.

About 30 people, including employees, members and others, crammed into a tiny room for the roughly hour-long session in which some expressed dissatisfaction with the zoo's current leadership.

"There needs to be more transparency between the board and the staff," said Patricia Searles, the zoo's education curator.

Employees have a strong connection with the zoo and want to see it move ahead in a positive manner, she said.

Searles spoke up at various times throughout the meeting about concerns the staff has regarding the way the facility is being run, the search process for an executive director and incorporating staff members into the zoo's decision-making process.

She then tried to submit a four-page report of issues raised by staffers, signed by 14 employees, to the board.

"This is not the place for the presentation," Chairwoman Sharon Witte told her, noting the document could be considered Thursday during the executive committee meeting, which is not open to the public.

Searles continued to try to read from the report as Witte reiterated it was not the time or the place, and that she could leave the documents for the board to review later.

"Shut up and let her read!" someone shouted from the audience.

There was a back-and-forth between staffers, others and board members during a good portion of the meeting. A question-and-answer session followed, in which many of the employees' concerns were aired. Among them, according to the document Searles distributed to attendees after the meeting:

» Consistency: Staffers believe there needs to be more stability in the zoo's upper management in order to choose a direction for the staff and the organization.

On Aug. 16, Sheila Green, who served as the zoo's executive director for less than two years, left the facility. At that time, Witte cited a "personnel issue" and wouldn't discuss it further.

Green was the zoo's fourth executive director since Steven Contento retired in 2002 after 17 years. Laura Jane Stewart was fired nine months into the job in 2003, and her successor, Jarod Miller, served for a year before resigning. Mike Janis took over in January 2006 and helped the zoo regain its accreditation from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which it had lost in 2005 due to turmoil over previous leadership and finances. Janis left in January 2010, with the board again citing a personnel matter. Janis said he was let go.

» Transparency: Employees want more transparency and communication between the board and staff.

Following the meeting, Witte said employees also need to realize there is a process in place when it comes to airing an issue.

"In any business, there's a defined way to make a grievance or state your position," she said.

» Financial stability: Employees said they are worried that due to financial woes, the zoo will be "unable to address immediate concerns with the maintenance of the exhibits and grounds without another source of funding."

Broome County's 2012 budget contains $286,454 for the zoo, a slight decrease from last year. The zoo's total budget for 2012 is $913,161. The zoo received $295,313 from the county in 2011, which made up close to a third of its $1 million budget that year.

Zoo officials acknowledged funding is tight and that attendance was down in 2011 compared with 2010. Conklin didn't have exact figures regarding attendance, but said it was a "couple thousand." He attributed the decrease to weather and September's flood.

New leader sought
Meanwhile, the search for an executive director continues, and interviews are under way. The field has been narrowed to five candidates, Witte said. A decision could come by March.

Board members have repeatedly said they want someone who understands the business side, as well as the animal side.

According to the job posting on the zoo's website, the director would be "responsible for comprehensive development, implementation, administration and evaluation of the zoo, including fundraising efforts and programs to fund capital needs and service growth, education and capital reserves."

The person also would be responsible for other duties, including long-range plans for the organization, managing the zoo's daily activities and dealing with donor relations, stewardship of funds and board and committee activities.

Conklin, who took a leave of absence from his job at All Ready Printing in Binghamton where he oversees business development, previously expressed some interest in the permanent director job. He no longer wants to be considered.

"This was a lot of fun for a few months," he said of the interim role. "At this point, I'm going to go back to my life."