BROWN TOWNSHIP — Despite finding itself in the throes of a contentious tax hike proposal, the Brown Township Advisory Board has had a vacant seat for more than two months after it was learned Friday, March 7, that former board member Steven Oschman moved out of the county in early January.
Brown Township’s advisory board consists of three members, all serving alongside township trustee Mark Harris. Oschman had not appeared for any of the public hearings, and the reason is now known: He moved to Zionsville at the beginning of January.
When reached by phone Friday, Oschman told The Correspondent that prior to his departure, he informed Harris of his move but not the party chair or county clerk, which is a customary practice for elected officials who may be stepping down.
Since Oschman is a Republican, it is up to local party chair Carole Snyder to organize a caucus within 30 days to fill his vacant seat. When The Correspondent spoke with Snyder by phone Friday, she learned of Oschman’s departure for the very first time.
“I’m very surprised (Oschman moved),” Snyder said Friday. “I thought he was still in Mooresville. Someone should have told me.”
She ended the phone call by saying she needed to speak with Harris, wondering why he did not tell her of the vacancy so she could move forward with filling it.
If Harris had told her, the 30-day time frame to organize a caucus to replace Oschman would have been initiated in early January, well before the first public hearing on the proposed fire territory took place on Jan. 30.
The Correspondent reached out to Harris multiple times, hoping to find out why he did not contact Snyder. Calls were made to the township office phone number and also to what was later confirmed to be his personal cell phone number. Harris answered his cell phone a single time.
The reporter introduced himself and asked him if he was, in fact, speaking with Mark Harris.
“You are not,” he said. “And you need to erase this number from your phone.”
He then hung up on the reporter.
Subsequent calls to the number went unanswered.
The vacancy on the board — and the confusion surrounding it — comes amidst a pivotal time for Brown Township and Mooresville. An effort to merge the Mooresville and Brown Township fire departments is under active consideration, and many members of the public have come out in opposition due to the 32-percent property tax increase that would come along with the fire territory.
The potential fire territory has now had three public hearings with the Mooresville town council and Brown Township advisory board, and will be up for final approval March 20.
