UPDATED II (May 25): Wilkin survives another 3-2 vote by Greenfield council; audio link disconnected by village

By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press

For the second time in as many months, a majority of Greenfield Village Council has rejected efforts by two other council members to remove City Manager Todd Wilkin.

In an early morning meeting Friday, May 24, council voted, 3-2, not to remove Wilkin. Council members Phil Clyburn, Brenda Losey and Mary Ellen McMurry voted in support of Wilkin. Council members Carlos Ooten and Cory Taylor have sought to oust Wilkin in council meetings in April and May.

On April 5, The Highland County Press and other local media received a news release signed by just two Greenfield council members, Taylor and Ooten, who announced a special meeting of council for Tuesday, April 9.

Taylor and Ooten disclosed that the meeting was to discuss "the status of the employment of City Manager Todd Wilkin." Three other council members did not sign the news release. 

During the meeting, Losey told council: "I love our community. We are up here for our community. Yelling at each other, it just doesn't feel good, it doesn't seem right. I want our community to love each other. I feel like we've forgotten that. Social media is insane. If we have an issue, we need to take care of it in a decent and kind way. We should really think about why we are here." 

McMurry added, "In the last four months, I have been coerced. I have been held hostage. I have been bullied and extremely uncomfortable. It is absolutely unacceptable. It is up to us to lead this community. Facebook is not an official line of communication. If you have something, come to us. You have people in the city who are being harassed just trying to do their jobs. Think about how you would feel if it was you."

The Highland County Press has submitted multiple public records requests to village officials for the full minutes of the May 24 meeting. Those officials include the council clerk, president of council and city manager.

An online link to a poor audio recording of the meeting had been released to the media, but was taken down after it was included here on May 24.

According to council clerk Katherine Blumenberg, "The Google Drive link I provided for you was to enable you to download the audio recording with as much ease and convenience as possible; Google Drive is simply the most accessible way to move such large media files. However, the link to that Google Drive itself was not approved to be published for the public, per the city solicitor’s advice."

According to the Ohio Revised Code, "public record means any document regardless of physical form, including an electronic record, created or received by or coming under the jurisdiction of any public office, which serves to document the activities of the office." (ORC Sec. 149.43, April 5, 2024.)

* * *

••• Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 25 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.