Ruth-Swart’s comments received a standing ovation from residents attending the meeting, which prompted Lauchle to shut down public comment even though there were other residents who had raised their hands to speak. Lauchle then adjourned the meeting.

As the majority of residents remained in the meeting, eventually filtering out into the lobby to discuss what had happened, five troopers from the Pennsylvania State Police at Montoursville arrived, apparently at the request of Lauchle, to remove the group from the township building where the meeting had been held. Allegations that someone had said they were going to stay all night in the building had been made to the troopers and they were there to make sure that no one was trespassing on the premises.

At one point during the confusion, Sun-Gazette photographer/videographer Dave Kennedy was accused by Lauchle of escalating the situation by recording a video. Kennedy contested the accusation, asserting that it was his First Amendment right to do his job and that Lauchle was trying to curb freedom of speech.

When they first arrived the troopers seemed genuinely confused as to why they had been called to what appeared to be people standing around talking, and after sorting it out that it was a “peaceful assembly,” they left.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Amy Ruth-Swart, stands and calls for the resignation or removal from office of Muncy Township Supervisors Terri Lauchle and Denise Artley. Swart made the comments during a special meeting Tuesday night.

Contacted the day after the meeting, Trooper Lauren Lesher, a state police spokesperson at the Montoursville barracks, said that troopers did respond “but no services were needed.”

Apparently it was “a miscommunication between two township supervisors-one telling the people to leave while another told them they were allowed to stay and continue talking,” Lesher said.

The only two supervisors present at the meeting were Lauchle and Artley, who attended by telephone. The third supervisor, Heath Ohnmeiss, arrived after the meeting and indicated that he had been unable to attend because of work.

In her comments, which set off the series of events that followed, Ruth-Swart began by sharing that she had lived in the township all but 13 years of her life and had chosen to raise her family there because she believed the township “has a balance of blessings – family, neighbors new and old, deep steadfast roots, an important history, strong core values, a proud work ethic, small business opportunities, rural country roads and wide open spaces – and areas for smart growth and development that offer many positive opportunities and benefits for our township and surrounding areas.”

Expressing concerns about how the supervisors had conducted business since the beginning of the year, Ruth-Swart noted that she had spoken at several of the meetings in that time period, but that her concerns had never been addressed.

“Here we are at the end of April and I don’t think you’ve truly listened, grasped nor considered my concerns – nor the general concerns of the many others who have spoken, who have asked questions, and who have offered advice on how to do things the right way,” she said.

“If you had,” she continued, “our township wouldn’t be facing numerous lawsuits, wouldn’t have mounting legal fees on our tax dollars, and wouldn’t have gained a reputation for being unserious, unwelcoming, backward and ignorant.”

Township supervisors are currently facing litigation for Sunshine Act violations in addition to ongoing legal actions filed by FAMvest, developers of the former Lycoming Mall, now known as The District at Lycoming Valley, in order to move forward with a Bass Pro Shop opening at the site.

It was then that Ruth-Swart cited Second Class Township Code which states, “if a supervisor fails to perform their duties, 5 percent of the registered electors can submit a written complaint to the Court of Common Pleas – and wait for a hearing, that could take another 30 days.”

“I am prepared to start the petition, but would prefer not to wait another day for the leadership — or lack thereof — to take accountability and action. And therefore, I am publicly calling for the resignation of Terri Lauchle and Denise Artley for the following failures to perform their duties,” Ruth-Swart said.

She then listed their failure to: “transition in an efficient and professional manner”; “represent our township in a serious, professional and timely manner”; “run meetings in accordance with PA Sunshine Law and Constitutional Law of allowing citizens the right to speak”; “cooperate with township workers, township police, township fire company and township residents”; “maintain proper order and safety at township meetings”; “understand the basics of the laws, ordinances and zoning”; and “be responsible and cognizant with the spending of our tax dollars.”

“While one of those areas would be enough to signal failure to perform the durites of your elected position, the summary of those failures is so egregious that I, as a resident and tax payer in this township, have an obligation to call for your immediate resignations,” Ruth-Swart said.

“While I am steadfast and willing to stand alone in this call, I urge my fellow residents and neighbors to hold you accountable and call for your resignation, too,” she said.

Following the meeting Ruth-Swart indicated that she would begin circulating the petition to remove Lauchle and Artley within the next few days.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Muncy Township Supervisors Terri Lauchle speaks with two of the state troopers that responded to a call at the Muncy Township building during the special meeting on Tuesday night.