NLV parks chief out after 1 year on job, replacement picked

Not even a year on the job and North Las Vegas’ director of neighborhood and leisure services has decided to call it quits.

News broke that Mary Ellen Donner would retire Feb. 12 with the announcement of the man who will be taking her place: Cass Palmer, president and CEO of United Way of Southern Nevada.

Donner, who is 55, started April 15. She will have been with the city a year by the time she reaches her official last day, May 2. The date was worked out so she could get her retirement, City Manager Qiong Liu said.

Donner’s decision to retire came out of what Liu described as “progressive” conversations about Donner’s performance and happiness in her job.

“I don’t think it’s any individual’s fault so to speak,” Liu said. “We need stronger leadership.”

Liu also noted that the City Council had high expectations regarding what they wanted from that department and added, “it’s definitely a mutual decision.”

“She never wanted to stay here for long,” Liu said. “That’s why she never bought a home here.”

Asked if the city knew that Donner didn’t see herself with North Las Vegas for the long haul, Liu said no and that it’s never a guarantee that an employee will stay for a long time.

Donner’s replacement bypassed the traditional hiring process, according to Liu. North Las Vegas convened a hiring committee, interviewed multiple applicants and involved the city’s parks board when Donner was hired, Liu said.

Palmer simply told North Las Vegas he wanted to be a part of what the city was doing, and the city found him a place, according to Liu.

She said because the city had gone through the traditional hiring process with Donner not long ago they already knew “what is out there.”

Liu said the change is part of Mayor John Lee’s mission to assemble a “top-notch team,” and it isn’t uncommon for the city to get calls from people asking how they can be part of that history.

North Las Vegas is not a strong mayor government. That means Lee does not have hiring power, and his vote does not carry more weight than the other council members.

North Las Vegas has a council-manager style of governance, meaning the city manager has the executive role and serves at the pleasure of the council.

The structure often is compared to how a CEO answers to a board of directors.

Palmer’s hiring signals a drastic change in the type of leader the city wants to oversee its parks, recreation programming and housing and neighborhood services.

He has no experience in parks and recreation. His background is primarily in human resources for gaming companies.

Palmer has been in his role with United Way since 2011. Before that he was the senior vice president and chief human resource officer at Tropicana Entertainment Inc.

He also has worked as the corporate vice president of human resources for Olympia Gaming LLC/Southern Highlands Development Corp., the corporate vice president of human resources for Boyd Gaming Corp. and the senior vice president of human resources at Bally’s/Park Place Entertainment, according to the city’s press release.

Liu said she wasn’t worried that Palmer didn’t have experience in parks because the job isn’t just about parks. It is also about engaging the community, she said.

In contrast, Donner’s more than 24 years experience in parks and recreation was trumpeted by the city when she was hired.

Donner oversaw the city of Henderson’s parks for seven years before joining North Las Vegas.

Donner lost her job in Henderson when the city decided to merge its Public Works Department with its Parks and Recreation Department.

Donner was paid about $168,000 a year by Henderson. In North Las Vegas her salary was $125,000. Palmer will be paid the same.

Donner did not return a call for comment.

Contact Bethany Barnes at bbarnes@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3861. Find her on Twitter: @betsbarnes.