Ex-planning board member files suit
CONNELLSVILLE – A former member of the city planning board has filed a lawsuit against several council members and an appointee in his quest to be reinstated to the panel. According to the civil suit filed Monday, Randy Strickler is requesting the Fayette County Court nullify action taken Oct. 8 by Mayor Judy Reed and council members Judy Keller and John Whalen to end his tenure on the city planning commission and replace him with Ronald Rankin.
The suit filed by attorney Richard Bower, states that council moved to fill the position when there was no vacancy because Strickler’s term of office does not expire until January 2006.
“The resolution declaring a vacancy is illegal, void and of no effect,” states the court record filed by Bower.
The suit is also requesting that the court order the three city officials be required to pay all legal fees and restrict Rankin from being seated on the board.
Bower declined Tuesday to comment on the matter.
A hearing is scheduled for Friday at 9 a.m.
At the October meeting council also moved to restructure the tenure of commission members Samuel Spotto and Tom Trimpey to stagger the terms of office in compliance with municipal code. Spotto, Trimpey and Strickler were reappointed to a five-year term by council resolution in January 2001.
Strickler has served on the board for approximately 10 years.
The city has recently voted to take legal action against Strickler in connection with a building he is constructing along Crawford Avenue.
Citing that the three-story structure was a hazard to motorists maneuvering through the intersection of routes 119 and 201, Reed directed solicitor James Fitzsimmons to file an injunction to have construction halted and the building removed.
According to court records, no action has been filed on behalf of the city.
The building came under scrutiny when it was discovered the planning commission had not reviewed the application at a public meeting although two commission members had signed the paperwork and a building permit placard had been issued to Strickler.
The commission oversees new construction, along with replacement and repair work being completed within the city.
The commission delayed taking action on the application at its Oct. 1 meeting in order to allow its solicitor Kirk Sohonage to review the paperwork and determine a course of action.
According to Bower, Strickler has refrained from doing any construction work at the site until the panel renders a decision.
The commission is slated to meet in special session on Oct. 30.