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Lebanon Township swears in mayor, adopts reorganization resolutions and pulls annual schedule for review
Summary
At its Jan. 5, 2026 reorganization meeting, the Lebanon Township Committee swore in Jay Wojcik as mayor and newly elected committee members, approved most reorganization resolutions and appointments, and adopted the annual meeting schedule subject to further amendment at the Jan. 21 meeting after members requested more discussion. Public commenters urged review of Sunshine Law practices and better notice to volunteer committees.
Lebanon Township’s Committee met Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, at 6 p.m. and swore in newly elected and returning officials, approved a package of reorganization resolutions and appointments, and set a follow-up discussion on the township’s annual meeting schedule.
Jay Wojcik took the oath and assumed the mayor’s chair, and committee members Beverly Kohler and Richard Webb were sworn in as township committee members. Shortly after taking the oath, Wojcik thanked colleagues and township staff and pledged to be inclusive: "I promise to work for everyone in town regardless of who you are." The committee then proceeded to consider its reorganization business.
The committee adopted a broad consent package of reorganization resolutions — covering professional-service appointments, a temporary municipal budget, designation of newspapers and depositories, petty cash and change funds, interest and penalties on delinquent property tax payments, repeal/cancellation limits for small delinquencies, a recycling tonnage grant application, and an authorization for raffle application processing under state raffle law — by single motion and roll call. Resolution 03, which sets the township’s annual meeting schedule for 2026, was pulled from the consent bundle for further consideration after a member said the schedule represented "unfinished business." After extended discussion about publication deadlines and whether to hold a special meeting, the committee adopted resolution 03 "subject to it being considered for further amendment at the 01/21/2026 township committee meeting."
The township attorney told the public the state will change notice publication rules effective March 1, 2026, moving notices to a Secretary of State database and municipal websites; the township will publish interim notices twice monthly during the transition.
The committee also approved appointment resolutions for municipal professionals and committee liaisons, including appointing Carolyn Budd to multiple municipal officer roles, and voted separately to confirm Diane Loudenback as the certified tax collector for a four-year statutory term. The committee approved insurance and risk-management appointments for fund year 2026, including naming Bev Kohler as the fund commissioner and Groen Dike Associates as risk‑management consultant.
During the public-comment period, resident Chip Angel urged the committee to ask the attorney to review the Sunshine Law, saying he believed the committee "in the past . . . haven't followed it." The township attorney responded that, "As long as I've been the township attorney, they have" complied. Another resident, Laurie Hoffman, raised concerns that volunteers and advisory-group members were learning changes to committee structures in public instead of being notified in advance.
Before adjourning into executive session for a litigation update, the committee passed a resolution authorizing an executive session on that topic. The committee recessed for executive session and plans to reconvene for regular business including the Jan. 21 meeting where the annual meeting schedule will be discussed further.
