Trustee steps down as chair

Editor's note: Joseph Jones is a Register correspondent representing vermiliondaily.com. VERMILION TWP. — Vermilion Township trustee Kenn Baughman recently stepped down as chair of the board, requesting a public hearing to address allegations related to his conduct. Baughman said the move was intended to allow the matter to be reviewed without him presiding over the process. During that period, vice chair Don Rowe Sr. will serve as acting chair. The chair, mostly a figurehead position with no special voting powers or political privileges, primarily sets discussion topics and controls time limits during public meetings. When the chair can't fulfill these obligations, then the vice chair does. Baughman, however, will continue to serve as a trustee and participate in votes during a 30-day period, set to expire in mid-May. What happened? During a meeting on April 17, Baughman formally requested a public hearing regarding accusations made over the past several weeks involving access to township offices, the handling of records and whether he exceeded his authority as an elected official. He denied any wrongdoing and said he is seeking an opportunity to respond publicly to those claims, claiming, "The truth needs to be told. I'm going to show that what's being told is not that." Baughman said the situation stems from accusations made by former township employee Joe Baxter, who he said claimed Baughman entered his office without authorization. Baxter later confirmed he contacted the sheriff's office after the incident. Earlier this month, the trustees voted 2-1 to fire Baxter, who served as building and zoning inspector. Baughman and Keith Sexton supported the move while Rowe Sr. opposed. Before this, Baxter also served as the township's administrator, reporting directly to trustees. According to his termination letter, dated April 1, Baxter's employment ended because his performance as a full-time building and zoning inspector was "deemed unsatisfactory" during his probationary period. Regarding Baughman, he believes his actions were within his authority as a township trustee and described the situation as one that should be addressed in an open setting. He said the request for a public hearing is intended to allow testimony and evidence to be presented publicly rather than discussed behind closed doors. During the meeting, Baughman referenced state law governing public bodies, stating that matters involving elected officials must be handled in public, or open, session rather than in executive session, another word for private or behind closed doors. Baughman said he stepped aside as chair to avoid overseeing any potential hearing involving his own actions and to allow the process to move forward without questions of impartiality. According to Baughman, the decision on whether to host a public hearing now rests with the two others: Rowe Sr. and Keith Sexton. As of today, no formal determination has been made, and nothing has been filed regarding whether a public hearing will be scheduled.