KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Attorney Timothy Schoonover answers questions from the public shortly before being appointed Muncy Township solicitor at a special meeting on Thursday.

(Editors note: Timothy Schoonover confirmed that he had resigned as Muncy Township solicitor on Friday afternoon, effective immediately.)

Before two Muncy Township supervisors appointed attorney Timothy A. Schoonover of Babst Calland to be solicitor, he was asked by Jason Fink, president and CEO of the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, if he was aware of a lawsuit served Thursday to the township, and it was because the chair and vice chair of the board to this point have refused to sign the Bass Pro subdivision.

“Just to be clear, we did not refuse to sign the plans,” supervisor Denise Artley said. “The plans that Heath and I, last year in December, stamped Dec. 10, 2025, that Gwen (Pidcoe, former township manager) stamped, our engineer Dan Vassallo never saw those plans.”

“This is the most recent plans that you were sent today,” Fink said. “This isn’t last year.”

Schoonover replied: “I know nothing more … there was a lawsuit filed, which as I understood and I found out tonight when I arrived, by a developer, that was apparently served today. That’s all I know.”

Schoonover — who on Friday would resign as township solicitor — clarified he provided no legal advice to the township.

“This is just to see if you were aware,” Fink said, adding the attorney said he had a conversation with the two supervisors. Fink said he was just curious to see Schoonover’s level of awareness of what was going on in the township right now.

Schoonover said he had no “horse in this race,” adding it was his understanding “the goal of the supervisors was to bring in somebody from outside the area who was independent, unbiased etcetera.”

“I don’t know, I’m reading between the lines,” Schoonover said.

Schoonover affirmed he had a conversation with the two supervisors two days before the meeting.

He noted how, whether those in the room believed it or not, he was here to help.

“If the law is not being followed, I will not be solicitor for very long,” he said before the vote appointing him as solicitor — and before resigning on Friday afternoon.

Artley and Chairwoman Terri Lauchle voted in favor of hiring Schoonover while Heath Ohnmeiss abstained.

Fink asked Schoonover if he would be willing to share supervisors’ “scripts” in compliance with right-to-know laws.

“I have no knowledge of any scripts,” Schoonover said.

“Ah, they’ve been reading from scripts,” Fink said. “It’s pretty evident this is scripted. Let’s be honest.”

Schoonover acknowledged the right to know is a process available under the law. He added that to the extent that he is involved if it is legally required to be produced it will be produced.

“It’s that simple,” Schoonover said.

The new solicitor also noted he has informed supervisors that they do not have a legal obligation to answer any questions to them at a public meeting.

That is a conundrum, he said, adding it is not a comfortable conundrum for a board of supervisors.

“Understand that — they can sit here and listen to you and not answer any questions. The law allows that,” Schoonover explained. “I’m not saying that is right or wrong, I am not passing judgment on that.”