2 Etna trustees block removal of former member from boards

In a tense meeting, two Etna Township Trustees blocked removal of a former trustee and fiscal officer from boards — to the displeasure of another trustee and residents.

During a special meeting of the trustees March 29, Trustee Mark Evans brought forward resolutions that would have removed former Trustee John Carlisle and Fiscal Officer Walter Rogers from the Licking County Tax Incentive Review Council and City of Reynoldsburg Tax Incentive Review Council.

The councils annually review the tax incentives given to businesses to ensure they are meeting the required terms created by the tax incentive.

Carlisle and Rogers were appointed to the councils on Feb. 24, 2021 for terms from Jan. 1, 2021-Dec. 31, 2022. Evans proposed replacing them with Gary Burkholder, a former Etna trustee, and Julie Varian, the township’s current fiscal officer. Evans said after the meeting that Carlisle and Rogers’ positions on the two councils were not tied to their previous roles as elected officials.

Evans and Trustees Jeff Johnson and Rozland Mckee discussed the matter — as well as the open administrator position — in a 30-minute executive session. But Johnson and Mckee were silent when it came time to discuss the removals during the open meeting.

Neither one seconded Evans’ motions, which would have allowed for debate of the matter. The motions died without seconds.

Evans also tried amending the resolutions to appoint alternatives to the councils, both those were also met with silence from Johnson and Mckee.

Carlisle lost his bid for reelection as township trustee last fall after a contentious election while he also had a pending civil suit about his negated contract as general manger of the Southwest Licking Community Water and Sewer District.

Rogers resigned in January in the middle of his term as fiscal officer after Evans and Mckee took office. Varian was unanimously appointed Jan. 24.

As the meeting adjourned, Evans expressed his frustration.

“I’m so disappointed in this board, keeping a corrupt individual on a board,” Evans said.

Attendees also shared similar feelings with Johnson and Mckee.

“This is pathetic,” said resident Steven Paul. “I’m really disappointed in you Mr. Johnson, and you Ms. Mckee.”

Mckee told Paul he had a right to his own opinion.

After Evans and Mckee each spoke with meeting attendees separately, they traded comments.

“You’re not going to bully me,” Mckee said.

Mckee said in an interview with The Advocate that in state government, the governor appoints people to boards and even if there is change of the party in power, people will continue to serve out their terms. She was applying the same standard in this case.

“It’s not personal, it’s not personal. That’s all personal. I’m not dealing with personal stuff,” she said gesturing to Evans.

Johnson told The Advocate he felt action wasn’t needed.

“Why would you remove somebody that knows what’s going on? Knows the whole history of it?,” he said. “I mean, that just doesn’t seem smart, put two people who don’t know (any) idea what they’re talking about on there.”

Evans said after the meeting he wanted Carlisle and Rogers removed because of past improper actions from the two.

“I don’t think they are proper representatives of Etna,” he said. mdevito@gannett.com 740-607-2175

Twitter: @Mariadevito13