Holliday
Trainer
GALENA — Two of Harlem Township’s three trustees have resigned in recent months.
Vice Chair Matt Jaeger resigned from the Harlem Township Board of Trustees at its meeting on April 17. Also at that meeting, the township’s Strategic Planning Committee disbanded, and Crossroads Community Planning stopped working with zoning for overlays in the township. The remaining trustees “moved to approve to end the current conversations with the City of Westerville regarding potential of merger,” minutes said.
The trustees reconvened their previous meeting on April 23. Cory Goe, of the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office, told the trustees they have 30 days to fill Jaeger’s vacancy. An advertisement for the position was approved to run in The Gazette on April 27 and May 1.
There were nine applicants for the open seat, and they were interviewed by Chair Carl Richison and alternate Dave Jackson on May 6. The three finalists — Amber Capwell, Jeff Hatfield and Aaron Holliday — were interviewed a second time on May 8. The trustees offered the position to Holliday. “This would be until a special election held November 2025 and then this position would be on track for regular election November 2027,” meeting minutes said.
The meeting of May 15 began with Richison addressing “all the disinformation circulating in our township.” Crossroads was retained “for planning services in direct correlation with the Quick Strategy Guide.” Trustees Holliday, Jackson and Richison hired Jim Steelesmith as the township’s Economic Development Officer. Jackson was named vice chair.
A special meeting was held on May 29, where the trustees moved to accept the resignation of Richison. Also resigning was Administrative Assistant Kendra Borror. Jackson was named chair, and Holliday vice chair.
On June 12, the trustees approved a fire levy (more about this in a future article). In public comments, Jon Trainer “Discussed about Intel and Township working with Delaware County Reginal Planning.”
Seven candidates for the open trustee seat were held in a special meeting on June 18. Afterwards, they offered the position to Trainer. A full-time administrative assistant offer was given and later withdrawn.
Another special meeting was held June 24. A firm was hired for recruiting the administrative assistant, as well as placing an ad in The Gazette.
Holly Mattei, of Crossroads Planning, did a presentation on an overlay zoning district on June 26.
In a special meeting on July 11, there was an executive session “to discuss the conferences with an attorney for the public body concerning disputes involving the public body that are the subject of pending or imminent court action.”
Assistant Editor Gary Budzak photographs and reports on stories in eastern Delaware County and surrounding areas. He can be reached at 740-413-0906.
