To the editor:

In response to the Sunday, June 7, 2015 article regarding “Council votes against mayor.” Fire Chief Rick Bowman made an alleged accusation that I threatened Monroe Township Trustees. I never once threatened the Trustees of Monroe Township nor would I.

The People’s Defender in recent coverages neglected and failed to mention one huge factor in their coverages of this story and that is the Monroe Township Firefighters went to the Monroe Township Trustees and 99 percent of them were in support of me to be the fire chief.

I have worked very hard to keep all my duties separate and have done very well. I was a firefighter for the Manchester Fire Department until I took over as mayor in December 2011. I resigned due to conflicts of interest with the Manchester Fire Department. Then I went to Monroe Township to avoid the conflicts of interest. Now, it has happened again as much as I have tried to avoid it.

The vote of no confidence was after a letter that was filed with Adams County Board of Elections and the Ohio Ethics Commission regarding Fire Chief Rick Bowman and his position as an elected official with the Manchester Board of Public Affairs. According to law it is an “Limitations on an Office Holder” when a person is an employee or compensated.

In a meeting two months ago with department heads Mr. Bowman asked our Clerk Melinda Horsely and I to review the Board of Public Affairs. I did and this was my discovery. At that point I had a decision to make. Do I file a letter or let it go and possibly face penalties myself for knowingly allowing it to go on? What I have attempted to do in this village is to be fair and balanced. We have seen great success out of the police department on that commitment.

It doesn’t surprise me that four of the council members voted a no confidence in me. The minutes reflect in prior meetings that brought us to this point. Listen, I am not here to make friends. I have been elected to do a job and that is what I will continue to do.

This village offers over 55 businesses. We are starting to see things happen and the town cleaning up and looking presentable. The Jack Roush Committee is making 2nd Street look really great with the new street lamps. We must continue to work together to see great things happen.

Mayor Troy Jolly

Manchester