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Resident accuses city officials of misconduct; council member issues categorical denial
Summary
During public comment at the Oct. 21 Middletown City Council meeting, resident Jennifer Chen accused city officials of multiple violations and retaliation; Council Member Lolli denied the allegations. Larry Silas, a mayoral candidate, also addressed the council about listening to residents.
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — Two residents used the citizen comment period at the Middletown City Council meeting on Oct. 21 to address city conduct and civic participation.
Larry Silas, who said he is a candidate whose name will appear on the ballot, told council he has attended meetings since filing petitions and said he would fight to make Middletown "a better place" if elected. Silas said he attends meetings to learn how the council operates and to better represent residents if elected.
Jennifer Chen, who identified herself as a volunteer and former commission member, addressed the council at length with a series of allegations involving city officials, federal and state rules, and employment repercussions tied to complaints she said she and her husband filed with outside authorities. Chen said she volunteered time to city processes and then experienced retaliation, including an episode she described as a staff member "rearing up" and slamming a hand on a table near her during a meeting. She also told the council she contacted the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) about perceived misspending of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds; Chen said HUD agreed with her complaint and the city took corrective action.
Chen also said she applied for reappointment to a historic commission seat and that the council left a seat vacant rather than reappoint her. She linked some decisions to demolition of structures in the Oakland Historic District and called those actions improper.
Council Member John Lolli (first reference: Lolli) answered from the dais and said, "I absolutely, categorically, 100% deny every accusation that Ms. Chen made against me." Lolli did not expand his remarks beyond denying the allegations during his turn in council comments.
The meeting record shows no formal investigation or disciplinary action announced at the meeting in response to Chen’s remarks. City Manager Ashley Combs was present during the meeting; Chen referred in her remarks to "Mr. Lawley, as city manager," a characterization that does not match the city manager identified in the meeting agenda as Ashley Combs.
The citizen comment period concluded after Chen’s remarks and the council moved on to council comments; no motion or vote addressing the allegations was recorded at the Oct. 21 meeting.
Journalists should note these are allegations reported by a member of the public during a public comment period; the council did not take formal action on them at the meeting.
