To the editor:

Reading the questions placed by William Hupp in his inquiry to you, brought to my mind that famous editorial entitled “Is there a Santa Claus?” There is similarity and my editorial follows his very pertinent concerns that need to be addressed.

No, Bill, it’s not a vendetta but a land-grab by way of several schemes based on a mindset that it would gain a legacy by recognition. Is it a two-part phase? No, more like a three-part phase to cause confusion development with township trustee involvement. It was first developed in the early 1980s in the mindset office of Mayor Sell prior to a meeting of the Salem City Planning Commission, by a young attorney recently receiving his license to practice and a commissioner. On the agenda was developer Dan Adamson and involving the remaining lots of Countryside Drive where you live; Colonial Drive from Goshen Road to the tie-in with the Western portion of Countryside Drive; and a cross street to Beechwood Road (the Butcher lot and Milhoan lot) both originally planned for gaining quick police and fire protection for the area.

I should know this because I was the Salem City Planner from 1965 onward that planned for future developments and best uses based on the subdivision regulations developed in accordance to a 1958 Planning/Zoning comprehensive study by Michael J Baker from New York. The Planning Commission is the platting commission by state authority. And their jurisdiction was three miles beyond the city corporation. Periodically I had to review all these lands and prepare for development should the need ever arise. My efforts were approved by the Salem City Planning Commission as a guide use.

The deal in the meeting however was to have Adamson include that erroneous language on his lots in exchange for his requests for a street name change to Hampton Place from Colonial Drive, going to a Cal-du-Sac, and also eliminating the crossover street to Beechwood Road hilltop. This is public record. Upon agreement, this erroneous language was taken to city council for passage and hence the development of the ordinance attempting to bind and control the people beyond the city corporation lines and contrary to the state governing laws among other pertinent laws which I save for case testing.

Enter the three Perry Township Trustees, standing abreast arguing with city council and their same political party: Chairman Galen H. Greeneisen, Trustee Glenn H. Whinnery, and Trustee Joyce S. Wilson. Trustee Wilson would always poll his constituents be he a city councilman or trustee, true to his official title, as he seriously functioned as their representative. He voiced his results to city council that the majority of people in the city as well as the township were highly against this council action that eventually passed except for one vote. He was right! Three years later, 65% of the Salem City voters removed Mayor Sell from office in favor of a completely unknown airline pilot named Mondell who had no municipal corporation experience. Three years later the remainder of council was changed. This is public record and I was there.

The Salem City scheme with the Munday farm annexation to have a new Industrial Park whereas testimony was given in Common Pleas Court that stated that all abutting and adjacent lands were agricultural or residential and therefore the highest and best use of the Munday farm was…..Industrial. This is public record.

The third phase may not be in the same order but its not far from you and its the residential development of the Dr. George Wilson farm(s) whereby he will be relieved of water/sewer placement costs normally required by the subdivision regulations because Salem City not long ago did the honors for him. Take notice that his land development will show in the future and undoubtedly contain that same erroneous contract in all deeds and being “contiguous” to Colonial Drive……guess what? The former Trustees were part of that amiable party plan, knowing or not knowing.

You asked about the Ohio Supreme Court venture. Yes, it bothers me too even though I’m not affected… for it takes us farther away from “home” and becomes more politically involved when that happens. I gave the method for all the affected homeowners to safeguard their home but to my knowledge, no one cared. There’s still time to rectify their position because the “worse phase is yet to come and you won’t like it”. More later…to answer your further questions and how to overcome this adversity. Yes Bill, there is a Santa Claus.

Stephen Navoyosky,

Salem