NEWS

Second Granville trustee resigns

Charles A. Peterson

GRANVILLE – For the second time in a month, a Granville Township trustee has resigned.

Paul Jenks, who has held a trustee position for five years, announced his resignation on June 29, effective July 1, saying he was retiring and planned to pursue other interests.

That left one trustee — Melanie Schott — on the three-member trustees board. On June 8 at the conclusion of the trustees' regular meeting, Bill Mason resigned after six years on the board, also effective July 1.

Mason's position was filled on July 2 with appointment of former Granville Township trustee Fred Abraham by a panel of five township residents listed on Mason's 2013 candidate petition.

Originally, Jenks and Schott had agreed to take applications from interested residents, with a deadline of July 6, to choose Mason's replacement at the July 8 session.

Now, the trustees have 30 days from the date of Jenks' resignation to name his replacement.

If an appointment is not made July 8, the previously agreed-to process calls for a second meeting on July 22 to interview candidates in an open session, the outline states.

If the vacancy still isn't filled, it would go to Licking County Probate Judge Robert Hoover to name the replacement since Jenks did not list names on his last candidate petition for a committee of five.

Schott said Tuesday she would favor following the previously outlined procedure following the committee of five appointment, with the new appointee to replace Jenks instead of Mason.

Jenks had six months left in his current four-year term. His position and the remaining two years of Mason's term will be up for election this fall, according to the Licking County Board of Elections. Jenks was unopposed for election in 2011 after he was appointed to fill a trustee vacancy left by the resignation of Fred Abraham.

Jenks acknowledged that the disharmony on the board was a factor in his decision to resign, which was similar to Mason's reason for stepping down. However, Jenks did not elaborate further.

"I think the majority of the residents in Granville Township know that in recent months there has been a great deal of tension on the Board of Township Trustees," Jenks said in an email to The Sentinel accompanying his letter of resignation. "Personal attacks by me, or going into the details as why I have resigned serve no purpose. It is easier and more professional to simply withdraw, and wish everyone the best."

Jenks' letter further stated, "My original decision to serve as a Trustee was based on an opportunity to give back to the greater Granville Community by using my prior business and government experience to continue enhancing the good work of prior Trustees and Fiscal Officers. For a host of reasons, I now find that goal near impossible."

Both Jenks and Mason, in their letters of resignation, listed several names of people they enjoyed working with, but neither letter included Schott's name.

Schott had been openly critical of Jenks and Mason at times for they way they conducted trustees business. At a meeting last November, when re-appointment of a member to the township zoning commission was discussed, Schott accused Jenks of "making deals" while Jenks accused Schott of attacking himself and Mason during the heated exchange. Ultimately Jenks and Mason closed the meeting before the agenda was completed and walked out.

At the June 8 trustees meeting, when Schott was absent, she accused the two of holding a vote to return money from a firehouse building fund to the general fund without telling her it was going to take place. Both denied the accusation.

"I asked some questions and I asked to be included in some things — to be included in the decision-making process," Schott said Tuesday. "That's where the disconnect occurred."

Schott said in an email Tuesday she was surprised by Jenks' resignation since he had only six months left in his term.

"On behalf of the Township, we thank Trustee Jenks for his contributions to Granville Township and wish him the best in future endeavors," Schott said in the statement.

"As I have in the past," she continued, "I will continue to work on what is in the best interest of Granville Township. Going forward I will work with the two individuals appointed until the end of this year and whomever is elected by the voters in November."