SYLVANIA TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A Lucas County judge has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the appointment of a township trustee.
Judge Jack Puffenberger submitted the motion to dismiss a lawsuit by Sylvania Township Trustee John Jennewine levied against the appointment of fellow township trustee Jill Johnson. The motion was filed in the Ohio Supreme Court on Sept. 13.
Johnson was appointed to the seat on Aug. 8 by the majority of voting members after John Crandall had vacated it the month prior.
Jennewine, who threatened the lawsuit if Puffenberger did not decide on Johnson's appointment, said the three-step appointment process outlined in the Ohio Revised Code was not followed.
Jennewine then followed through on the threat and asked the state Supreme Court to expel Johnson and fill her vacancy over allegations her appointment process was not legal.
He specifically alleges the first two steps of the process were not followed, saying that the board of trustees did not appoint a replacement for Crandall within 30 days of his retirement on July 1 and that a committee designated by Crandall to appoint his replacement chose Johnson without a majority and not by an ORC-established deadline.
The lawsuit asks the court to undo the committee's appointment of Johnson and expel her, as well as direct Puffenberger to make an appointment himself.
An attorney for Jennewine told WTOL 11 on Tuesday that they will "definitely oppose the motion."
The full motion to dismiss can be read below or at this link:
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