New rec director takes over for Brecksville icon

By Melissa Martin

Nov. 16 city council meeting

Seven Hills native Rachele Fitz-Engle was sworn in as Brecksville’s new recreation director, succeeding Tom Tupa, who retired in May after 15 years in the job. Before joining the city administration, Tupa played in the National Football League for 18 years, three with the Cleveland Browns.

Fitz-Engle boasts a distinguished athletic resume. A 2010 graduate of Marist College, she was a three-time captain of the basketball team, was named Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year for three seasons and made the league’s all-academic team three times.  She is a member of the Marist College Hall of Fame and is the first female basketball player in school history to have her jersey retired.

“She is definitely one of the most talked-about appointments in town,” Hruby said.

Fitz-Engle brings several years of experience, managing multi-complex events, marketing and brand management. She oversaw multiple national tournaments and served as executive assistant to the chief executive officer of Ohio Basketball/TFN Camps and Clinics Inc.

Fitz-Engle will be charged with the management and oversight of the city’s recreation department, community center and all related personnel and facilities, Hruby said.

“I look forward to bringing value to what the community already has to offer and look forward to working beside Mayor Hruby,” said Fitz-Engle, who lives in North Royalton.

Also appointed to a new job with the city was Frank Faulhaber, promoted to police sergeant following 13 years in the department.

Faulhaber, who began his career with the Cleveland Heights Police Department, joined the Brecksville department as a patrol officer in 2008. He serves as a member of the department’s honor guard and has experience working as field training officer, crash investigator and crash reconstructor. Most recently he worked in the detective bureau.

“In my opinion, the chief’s opinion and many officers he’s worked with over the years, he’s done an outstanding job and makes an excellent investigator,” Hruby said. “I’ve had the privilege of working with him on a couple of cases over the years, and I’ve always known him to be point-on for detail.”

As sergeant, Faulhaber will take on the role of the department’s road supervisor.

“Since I started working here, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of excellent men and women, and it’s because of them that I’m standing here today,” Faulhaber said. “Together we make a great team, but even better, we make a great family.”

Council’s safety service committee discussed a motion recommending to council the approval of an ordinance authorizing a $29,985 purchase from Collins Equipment Corp. as part of the city’s gas pump security project.

Service Director Ron Weidig told council the city’s fuel vending system started to malfunction approximately a month earlier. He said upgrading the diesel fuel vending systems at the service garage and horticulture buildings was the most cost-effective option.

The new system, he said, will be capable of generating reports, monitoring consumption and enable the city to compare the amount of fuel delivered to the amount of fuel consumed. The city will also be able to input odometer information that will soon be required by the state and federal government.

The purchase was not planned as part of the service department’s 2021 budget, however, Hruby said the existing unit has seen its fair share of useful life.

“We purchased [it] four service directors and more than 30 years ago,” he said. “It’s more than served its purpose and paid for itself over that time.” ∞