Director 'no longer employed' at family center

By COURTNEY LAMDIN | Staff Writer
courtney@miltonindependent.com

Brett Chornyak, executive director of the Milton Family Community Center, is no longer employed there as of Thursday, May 19, but the organization’s president and two members of its leadership team declined to say why.

“I can’t do that,” said MFCC board president Deb Jorschick when asked what happened. “That’s respecting Brett’s confidentiality. I can’t go into detail.”

Jorschick wouldn’t specify if Chornyak resigned or was fired or when the decision
was made.

“Whether he was or he was not [fired], it’s out of respect for Brett,” she said, citing
why she couldn’t speak on the matter.

“Legally I can’t discuss what happened, and our lawyer would say the same thing,” she added.

Jorschick said staff was told Chornyak was no longer employed at the center in a meeting last Thursday.

Charlotte Parot, a member of MFCC’s leadership that met weekly with Chornyak, said staff doesn’t know any details. She also declined to discuss the staff’s reaction to Chornyak’s departure.

“We fully respect each staff person’s privacy, and so we don’t disclose more than the fact that they are or are not there any longer,” she said.

Asked if the board told staff not to say why Chornyak is gone, Parot said, “I can’t answer that, and I’m not going to.”

Jorschick also cited confidentiality when asked whether the board had evaluated
Chornyak this year and if he was offered a severance package.

Chornyak, about to finish his fourth year as director, also declined comment, saying he couldn’t do an interviewed without first talking to his lawyer.

Jorschick said the board plans to hire an interim director internally until a permanent director is found.

A Burlington firm will help in the hiring process, though the board has not discussed what qualifications are desired for its next director, who oversees more than 30 staff, Jorschick said.

Vikki Patterson, another member of the leadership team, said the board is supporting MFCC staff and she’s confident programs will continue as usual, as family and children are MFCC’s No. 1 priority.

“Everyone here is a professional who cares deeply about their work,” Patterson said.

“Knowing the executive director is not here is alarming, but hopefully [the community has] faith in the rest of us,” she continued.

“There are staff here that have been here for over 10 years and are really, really good at what they do.”

Parot echoed this, saying,“They shouldn’t have concerns. The center remains
in good standing with quality programs.”

Jorschick said an interim director will be selected this week, and the permanent position should be filled within two months.