Milesburg man settles suit with Centre County borough over council appointments
A Milesburg man settled his lawsuit against the small borough, closing one chapter in a period defined by infighting, resignations and alleged violations of the state’s open meetings law.
J. Bryce Taylor will be paid $25,000 in exchange for dropping the suit he initiated a year ago against the borough, Mayor Clair Martin and council members Fred Kellerman, Ethel Kellerman and Plummer Davidson. The money will be paid out by the borough’s insurance.
Notice of the settlement was filed Wednesday.
Taylor had sought to undo the appointments of four council members, claiming the borough unlawfully filled the elected positions after a rash of resignations. He also considered a separate civil rights lawsuit after he was led away from an April 2024 meeting by Pennsylvania State Police troopers.
Taylor, who represented himself throughout the lawsuit, told the Centre Daily Times he spent about $3,000 pursuing the litigation.
Milesburg did not admit liability or wrongdoing in the settlement. The agreement calls for the current council members and mayor to serve their terms for the rest of the year. Voters will have an opportunity to select their council members during the 2026 election.
In a letter signed by council members Barry Campbell, Kirsty Lloyd, Shirley Martin and Lauren Davidson-Haupt, the borough said the appointments were “done in good faith.”
The borough and Taylor also said they wanted to resolve the litigation to allow the small community to “function without further issues or expense” for taxpayers. Borough attorney James B. Halligan III declined comment Friday.
Taylor alleged Milesburg’s seven-member governing board broke state law when it carried out an April 2024 meeting with only three members present. Four are typically required at minimum for actions to take effect.
During one heated exchange, Fred Kellerman told Taylor “that’s our business, not yours.” Martin, meanwhile, told Taylor he had to leave. Taylor then walked out of the meeting, saying it was improper and against the law.
In court filings, the borough’s attorneys argued Taylor had no standing to sue. Borough solicitor Tracey Benson previously defended the meeting because all three active members were present.
Melissa Melewsky — media law counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, of which the CDT is a member — told the CDT previously she agreed.
“Given that there was only three of the potential seven members there, on the surface this does look like a violation,” Melewsky said. “However, given that the other board members had already turned in their official resignations, the meeting still could’ve happened with all of the active members being present there.”
Borough Council’s next meeting is scheduled for June 9.
This story was originally published May 17, 2025 at 6:00 AM.