SYLVANIA TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Sylvania Township trustee John Jennewine has followed through on a threat to ask the state Supreme Court to expel recently appointed trustee Jill Johnson and fill her vacancy over allegations her appointment process was not legal.
Johnson was appointed to the seat on Aug. 8 by the majority of voting members after John Crandall had vacated it the month prior.
But Jennewine, who threatened the lawsuit if Lucas County Probate Court Judge Jack Puffenberger did not decide on Johnson's appointment, says the three-step appointment process outlined in the Ohio Revised Code was not followed.
Jennewine 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.
Because these first two steps were not adhered to, the lawsuit states Puffenberger should have then made the appointment.
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.
The full text of the lawsuit is below:
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