Resident alleges rights violations and seeks meeting with township staff

Rich Gages, a resident who identified himself as living at 5793 Duveen Way, used the public-comment period at the Delhi Township meeting on Nov. 12 to say he believes township actors violated his rights over the past year and that he continues to feel wronged.

Gages said he has sought help from government officials and had scheduled follow-up meetings with township staff (he referenced Skyler and Chief Jeff), and he asked trustees for advice about pursuing government accountability and doing local news reporting. He told trustees he hoped the planned meeting with staff "will focus on solutions, truth, and transparency." Gages also said, framed as his personal opinion, that a recently murdered public figure had been "in the realm that government was involved in that." The commenter requested a moment of silence for the individual he named.

Trustees responded with procedural guidance. Trustee Davis encouraged Gages and any member of the public to attend meetings, ask pertinent questions and use public-records requests to pursue concerns; trustees said township actions follow state guidelines. Board members and staff offered to meet with Gages (Trustee Davis and staff referenced an upcoming meeting with Skyler and Chief Jeff). No formal investigation or enforcement action was announced during the meeting.

The board’s immediate offer was a staff-level meeting to discuss Gages’ complaints and to clarify processes for public engagement. The meeting record shows trustees reiterating that public meetings and public-records requests are standard avenues for accountability; they also said staff will try to resolve the dispute through a planned meeting.

The township did not make any findings or take formal actions on the claims during the Nov. 12 meeting.