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Brimfield trustees affirm appointment of Jasmine Golden as fiscal officer after community pushback
Summary
The Brimfield Township Board of Trustees confirmed Jasmine Golden’s July 28 appointment as fiscal officer and, after legal review, said the appointment is final under ORC 503.24. Golden addressed community concerns about a past bankruptcy and pledged transparency; the position will appear on the November 2025 ballot.
The Brimfield Township Board of Trustees on Aug. 6 affirmed the July 28 appointment of Jasmine Golden as the township’s incoming fiscal officer and said legal counsel had confirmed the appointment is final under Ohio law.
Trustee Nicholas Coia explained that former fiscal officer John Dalziel resigned June 24, 2025, and that the Board opened a public application process with interviews on July 17 before appointing Golden after background checks were completed. Coia said legal counsel advised Aug. 4 that the appointment stands under ORC 503.24, following an emergency meeting July 31 that sought to reverse the decision.
The matter drew public comment and scrutiny. During the meeting, resident Jake Whetstone said the July 31 meeting was unlawful and told Trustee Sue Fields she “should be ashamed of herself for lying.” Trustee Sue Fields also summarized community inquiries about Golden’s relationship with the township HR director and a previously disclosed business bankruptcy.
Golden addressed the Board and residents, saying she felt disappointment and frustration about recent debate but was "not discouraged" and remained committed to serving with integrity and transparency. She described the bankruptcy as the result of a failed contract that had been resolved through legal channels and said the experience strengthened her commitment to financial stewardship. Holly Woods clarified that her connection to Golden is through Leadership Portage County.
Coia said the township’s insurer, OTARMA, provides "Faithful Performance" coverage to protect continuity of financial operations and noted the fiscal officer position will appear on the November 2025 ballot; Golden will serve through Dec. 1, 2025, pending the scheduled sworn oath later that evening. The Board reiterated that completed background checks did not disclose court findings of fraud and that the County Auditor performed oversight functions where specified by statute.
The meeting record shows the trustees discussed next steps including a financial review and development of a fiscal roadmap to guide the township into 2026.
