By John Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WEST CHESTER TWP. - The Ohio Ethics Commission will decide whether action should be taken against former Trustee David Tacosik and Administrator David Gully for storing their boats on township property.

In the West Chester Township annual audit report just completed, the state auditor's staff concluded that "the administrator and the trustee (were) receiving something of value from the township free of charge," in violation of state law.

State Auditor Betty Montgomery referred the matter to the Ethics Commission and Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper "for whatever action they deem necessary," the audit said.

Tacosik, who was defeated for re-election in November after the storage controversy, had been parking his 30-foot RV and sailboat at the township police impound lot during fall and winter months since he was elected in 1999. Gully parked his boat on township property for about two weeks, the audit said.

The Ethics Commission will review the situation and may conduct an administrative investigation, said Jennifer Hardin, the commission's chief advisory attorney. Hardin cannot discuss specifics of any case because of state confidentiality requirements.

"We take every allegation seriously," she said. "If we determine a violation of the law did occur, we would forward our findings to the county prosecutor."

If the commission decides not to take action, confidentiality laws prohibit the agency from making that decision public, she said.

A spokesman for Piper said he was aware of the referral but could not comment further.

State auditors also recommended that trustees establish procedures for allowable use of township property. Trustees did that Tuesday, adopting a two-page policy prohibiting township employees and officials from storing personal property at township facilities. However, the policy allows "community-based civic groups" and nonprofit organizations to store play sets, sound equipment and other items on township property if they agree in writing not to hold the township liable.

Tacosik said Thursday he had not been contacted by the prosecutor or state. "I certainly will comply with anything I'm asked to do, but I don't anticipate anything will happen. It was pretty much politically motivated, and the mission was accomplished - to get me out (of office)," said Tacosik, who was defeated by Republican George Lang.

The Lakota Schools physical education teacher said he had not been asked to make restitution.

"There is no loss. The township is not in the storage business," he said. "No laws have been broken, by my understanding. We didn't have a law (storage policy), so nothing was broken."

Trustees President Catherine Stoker called the new policy "a good solution" at Tuesday's meeting. "A situation came up, and we addressed it," she said.

E-mail jkiesewetter@enquirer.com