Personal comment raises tensions at Elmwood Township meeting

It was a statement that stopped a meeting, and it came during yet another attempt to name resident Eric Saxon to the township Planning Commission.

“If your daddy didn’t have that farm and your wife’s daddy had that farm, you’d be a tenant farmer,” blasted trustee Paul Walter toward another trustee, Terry Lautner, Tuesday during the monthly meeting of the Elmwood Township Board.

Walter’s comment immediately upped the blood pressure of Lautner, who raised his voice in a demand for an apology for the statement’s personal nature and the fact that it was untrue.

Audience members, too, rebuffed Walter after the comment, leading board trustee Jim O’Rourke to call for a 5 minute break.

Supervisor Derith Smith sought to gain control and continue the meeting. “The audience can remove themselves,” she said.

Then other board members pressed for the break, which lasted closer to 15 minutes.

After the meeting resumed, Walter said he wanted to “formally apologize” for his comments, saying they were directed at Lautner’s labeling of Planning Commission member Jeff April as a “tenant farmer” because April owns 5 acres while leasing land to farm.

Lautner, who in 1984 purchased the property he and his wife, Cathy, live on and farm, said his family owned a farm in Solon, not Elmwood Township. The couple have made many sacrifices through the years to keep their farm going and meet mortgage payments, he added.

“You have no idea what it took for me to buy that farm,” said Lautner. He offered to provide details of the farm’s financial terms to a reporter in the audience.

Eventually, the board returned to its agenda, which included two appointments to the Planning Commission. Supervisor Smith offered two nominees, with only one passing.

Once again, Saxon was denied a seat on the Planning Commission by a 4-3 vote, with clerk Connie Preston, treasurer Debbie Street and trustees Lautner and O'Rourke opposed. The Planning Commission had unanimously asked for the appointment of Saxon, who attends nearly all of its meetings and routinely voices opinions during public comment periods.

Those supporting Saxon consider him a hard worker with an intimate knowledge of the township Zoning Ordinance and Master Plan. “In my opinion, the best person for the position is Eric Saxon,” said Smith, who added that Saxon possesses an “encyclopedia of knowledge” about township zoning. Saxon supporters were also concerned that placing a second farmer on the commission would over represent agricultural interests.

Those opposed were concerned that members of the Elmwood Citizens for Sensible Growth organization would come to dominate the commission, and pressed for a farmer to be appointed.

Several sought the appointment of Don Gallagher, who was one of five residents to submit applications to sit on the commission.

“The basic premise of democracy is one person, one vote,” countered Howell. “It’s not one acre, one vote.”

The opening was created when commission chair Jack Kelly did not seek reappointment. His work was lauded by those for and against Saxon’s bid.

Smith did not seek another appointment after the Saxon vote. “There has been plenty of compromise on my part … there is no other choice as far as I’m concerned,” she said.

Lautner accused Smith of “shirking your responsibility as supervisor. This isn’t a dictatorship. You don’t control the entire township,” he said.

His motion to disband the Planning Commission and to turn over responsibility for township zoning to the county never received a second.

The actions left the seven-member Planning Commission short-handed — again. In May, 2005, the board ratified only four of Smith's appointments, with Saxon failing to gain a seat through several attempts that extended through the summer. A full board was not seated until later that year.

Even Gilbo was not reappointed unanimously, with Lautner and one other board member opposed in a voice vote. It was not clear to the audience which board member also opposed her reappointment.

Lautner questioned whether Gilbo, who did not fill out an application, actually wanted to retain her seat. Replied Smith: “She has not expressed an interest in leaving the Planning Commission.”

Saxon said during public comment that his presence on the commission would have helped speed along a years-long process to write a new Zoning Ordinance, which is expected to be ready for public hearings next month.

“I’m the one who can sit on that commission and tell those guys to sit in a room and get it done. So that’s what you’re missing out on,” he said.

After the meeting, though, he said there may be a silver lining to the decision. “If I’m over there (on the commission), then who’s over here (in the audience)?” he asked.