Trustees vote to reprimand zoning board chairwoman

By MARY SMITH

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

MINERAL RIDGE — Despite her absence, Weathersfield Township trustees voted to formally reprimand Mary Sohayda, the chairwoman of the township’s zoning commission.

Trustees voted 2-1 for the reprimand, with outgoing trustee vice chairman John Vogel voting against the discipline.

The trustees had a formal hearing on the issue after a meeting of the zoning commission was called for Nov. 7. Only three members attended, and the press was not given notice of the meeting.

Trustees issued the reprimand because they believe Sohayda allowed the commission to be in violation of the Ohio Sunshine Law for failure to give the press the required notice of a public meeting.

Sohayda sent trustees two letters, one from her doctor saying she was not well enough to attend, and a second telling trustees she is battling a serious medical condition.

She also said in her main letter to trustees that, “Unfortunately, unbeknownst to me, proper notice of the Nov. 7, 2007 meeting was not sent to the appropriate outlets. This appears to be an unintended oversight by Ms. [Sherri] Craver.”

Craver is the township’s zoning inspector.

Sohayda has served on the commission for 18 years and has one more year left on her appointment.

Commission Chairman William Miller noted that although he was sure there were extenuating circumstances, “our state attorney general is making a very big deal about the Sunshine Law.”

Craver said that a decision had been made to change the November regular meeting on Oct. 24, when Sohayda knew she would be out of town.

All commission members were e-mailed, but by the day of the meeting, only two other members could attend the meeting besides Sohayda.

Craver said Sohayda never instructed her to notify the press. She noted there is a schedule put out for the press at the start of the year as to what the regular meeting schedule will be.

She added, “I didn’t know I had to notify [the press] for just a regular meeting or a work session, as I thought it was,” Craver told trustees.