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Planning commissioners dispute chair's comments to county board after construction exclusion removed from moratorium
Summary
Members of the Butler County Planning Commission criticized Chairman Roger Topil for speaking at a Board of Supervisors hearing after the county board removed a sentence excluding already-underway construction from the commission's moratorium resolution. Commissioners discussed the procedural and ethical implications and affirmed the upcoming administrative steps.
Butler County Planning Commission members raised concerns at their March 18 meeting about a change the Board of Supervisors made to a moratorium resolution the commission had approved days earlier.
Chairman Roger Topil opened the public hearing and noted the Board's Resolution 2026-07 was identical to the Planning Commission's Resolution 2026-04 except for the deletion of a single sentence: "To exclude projects already in physical construction, building started prior to the date of this resolution, with concrete evidence that construction has commenced;" Commissioners said the deletion narrowed the clause that would exempt projects already underway.
Commissioner John Kobza said Topil should not have spoken at the Board's public hearing without consulting the rest of the commission. "He should have consulted the rest of the Planning Commission before speaking at the Board's public hearing on the moratorium," Kobza said, calling it inappropriate for the chair to appear to speak for the commission when he had not sought committee input.
Commissioner Kevin Hotovy expressed frustration that the construction exclusion had been struck from the county board's version of the moratorium. Commissioner Will Reiter noted that Supervisor Griess moved to remove the sentence and that the county planner had agreed with the change.
Planner Tim Keelan told commissioners that Chairman Topil was speaking on his own behalf at the Board hearing, not representing the Planning Commission. "Chairman Topil was not representing the Planning Commission, just himself," Keelan said in the meeting.
The commission did not take formal disciplinary action. Members discussed the procedural importance of clarifying who speaks for the commission and reiterated that staff and the commission should coordinate messaging to the board. The meeting record noted the exchange and said the discussion would be reflected in the minutes.
The commission also discussed unauthorized contact from solar and other businesses; County Attorney Julie Reiter had circulated an email to members about appropriate channels for outside contacts. The commission moved on to regular agenda items and approved the prior meeting minutes by motion (moved by Reiter; seconded by Hotovy; all ayes).
