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Editor, Times-Union:
In response to Julia Goon’s August 7 letter about issues raised at our campaign event, we appreciate her clarification that the five acres referenced in the September 16, 2025, minutes remain Plain Township property, and are being farmed for cash rent. But that clarification does not erase the underlying transparency problem.
The approved minutes say the acreage was “given to” board member Larry Kammerer.
Any reasonable resident reading those words would ask whether the land was transferred, leased or rented; how the recipient was selected; what the terms were; and whether the interested board member participated in the decision.
That same lack of transparency extends to how the public is notified about meetings.
Goon defends posting meeting notices on the township door, but meeting the minimum legal requirement is not the same as practicing open government. Residents should not have to drive to the office simply to learn when their local government will meet. Notices should be published in the press, on the township website and through social media, giving everyone the opportunity to attend.
Goon also discusses the contract awarded to Anderson Lawncare, which has a family connection to a sitting board member. Again, the issue is transparency. A search of the state’s online database finds no conflict-of-interest disclosures related to this contract. Taxpayers deserve a complete account of the contract, and to know why its cost increased from $15K to $34K. Posting data on Gateway is disclosure; transparency means explaining decisions openly and clearly.
To this end, on 6/18/25 we sent a public records request to the trustee's office requesting a copy of all contracts executed by Plain Township from 2022 to 2026. We did not receive them.
At our event we also highlighted the large increase in salaries the trustee and board awarded themselves and Goon in 2026. According to the 7/17/25 meeting minutes, Goon's salary increased 200%. Taxpayers are paying her a salary in four different townships. No increase for the Plain Township volunteer firemen is mentioned in those minutes.
Goon goes on to accuse me of slander. A serious charge. She claims I said that Plain Township Board members are allegedly taking financial advantage of their roles. Those are her words - not mine. I provided a copy of my speech to the media that was in attendance. Those words do not appear in my speech. But, let me be clear when I say that the long-standing practice of employing the trustee's spouse or significant other with taxpayer funds is an advantage of the job that must end.
Calling attention to the township’s operations and large salary increases is not slander — it’s responsible public oversight.
Finally, we can't forget the State Board of Accounts audit that revealed misplaced funds and other compliance issues in Plain Township. Charlton, Kammerer and Bishop all sat on the board at the time. They blamed the problems on the previous trustee, but all had oversight responsibility.
Independent oversight of the Plain Township Trustee's office is long overdue. On November 3, we urge Plain Township residents to vote for three: Brian Smith, Rebecca Noftz and Robert Osbun.
Robert Osbun
Leesburg, via email
