Did Benner Township violate Pennsylvania’s open meetings law? A supervisor believes so
April 3, 2026, update: Kathy Evey voluntarily dropped the lawsuit, according to a notice filed March 25, 2026.
A Benner Township supervisor accused her fellow board members and the township’s longtime secretary Monday of violating Pennsylvania’s open meetings law.
Township Supervisor Kathy Evey alleged the group violated the state’s Sunshine Act when they hired a Bellefonte woman to perform transcription duties without providing ample notice to the public.
A message was left Tuesday with the township’s solicitor. Evey’s attorney declined additional comment Tuesday.
Evey was informed by the woman in August that she had been hired by Benner Township Secretary Sharon Royer to transcribe the township’s board of supervisors meeting, attorney Christine Line wrote in the filing.
Royer had been the one responsible for taking meeting minutes, but Line wrote that the township’s board did not discuss whether those duties should be delegated to a third party.
There was also no discussion about whether the job should be posted openly, compensation or whether they would be required to attend meetings, Line wrote. There was no executive session to discuss the position either, Line wrote.
Evey said she raised the potential violation of state law at the board’s public meeting earlier this month. Chairman Randy Moyer modified the meeting agenda to include discussion on the position, but Evey claimed it was improper since timely notice was not given to residents.
Royer said at the meeting that the woman was already hired and was being paid by her directly — not with taxpayer money, Line wrote.
Evey asked a Centre County judge to void the woman’s hiring because of the potential violation. No hearings were scheduled as of Tuesday. The board’s next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 7.
This story was originally published September 17, 2024 at 4:17 PM.