DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Muncy Township Supervisors Terri Lauchle, left, and Denise Artley, right, exit the Lycoming County Courthouse on Thursday afternoon.

A Muncy Township resident has amended her civil complaint in Lycoming County Court adding that the township has not elected a board chair or vice chair.

Cori Cotner, in her lawsuit alleging Sunshine Act violation, names the township Planning Commission, township Supervisor Terri Lauchle, Supervisor Denise B. Artley, and township Planning Commission Chairman Lawrence Spatz, for allegedly violating the state’s Sunshine Act, which requires that public meetings be open and accessible.

Lauchle was elected Nov. 4, 2025, with a term to run from January, 2026, until December of 2031.

Under second class township code, the township was required to hold a reorganizational meeting on the first Monday in January, which was Jan. 5.

Also under the code, supervisors were to elect a chair of the board of supervisors at the meeting. At the meeting, no vote to elect municipal officers was taken, according to the filing.

Over the course of January and February, additional special meetings were held. At those, public comment on agenda items was inconsistent, the court record showed.

Lauchle referred herself as chairperson

Currently, Lauchle remains in contempt for refusing to sign a subdivision plan that FAMvest, State College, needs to move forward with building a Bass Pro store on an out-parcel of the former Lycoming Mall known as The District.

County Judge Eric R. Linhardt held Lauchle in contempt of court when she refused to sign the plan and fined her $500 a day until she signs the plan. As of Thursday, she owed $3,500.

Artley signed the document, indicating she did not have the money to pay the fine. The plan requires the signatures of the chair and vice chair.

A third supervisor, Heath B. Ohnmeiss, favors the development on the site of a former Best Buy store, and cannot sign the plan.

Cotner cites meetings where she claims there were Sunshine Act violations such as not permitting public comment on agenda items.

The filing also makes note of Lauchle shutting down public comment at the end of the April 29 special meeting and calling state police when attendees lingered in the township building, according to Pennlive and a review of the court case by the Sun-Gazette.

Cotner seeks a court order declaring actions taken at the March 11, April 3 and April 29 meetings null and void and imposing penalties, including fines and costs, for “intentional violations” of the Sunshine Act. meetings and the imposition of penalties including fines and costs for “intentional violations” of the Sunshine Act.