Petitions filed to remove township trustees

A citizens group filed petitions Tuesday in Delaware County Common Pleas Court to try to oust two Liberty Township trustees.

Some residents accuse Trustees Melanie Leneghan and Michael Gemperline of trying to dismantle the township’s emergency services and outsource them to the county.

The township’s fire and EMS department has 56 fulland part-time firefighters and serves both the township and city of Powell. The group says 32 people risk losing their jobs if the county takes over EMS functions.

Despite objections from residents, Leneghan and Gemperline “continued on a reckless course” that included removing the department’s longtime medical director, awarding a no-bid contract for medical director services and hiring a new township administrator, Michael Schuiling, despite his not meeting minimum qualifications for the job, according to a news release from the group Save Liberty FIRE/EMS.

Both trustees say they have done nothing wrong and merely want to improve services and save money.

Petitions, each with 4,062 signatures — more than 1,500 more than required by law — were filed for each trustee detailing nine claims of misconduct in office against Leneghan and five against Gemperline.

Leneghan has threatened legal action against those who signed the petitions.

On Tuesday, Leneghan, who admittedly had not read the 20-plus-page complaint, said it had no basis and was organized by “political enemies on the left.”

Gemperline did not immediately return calls for comment.

Nico Franano, the group’s spokesman, called the petition effort a way to “end an era of reckless and selfserving management in Liberty Township by two rogue trustees and move toward a fresh start for our community.”

According to state law, once the petitions are filed and certified by the county board of elections, a removal hearing must be held within 30 days.