OLIVE TWP., MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Feb. 22, 2024) – There appears to be a change in the operational leadership of Ottawa County looming, but not just yet.
County Board Chairman Joe Moss called a special Thursday morning business meeting of his fellow Commissioners with the three following Agenda and Action Requests: Update from Board Chairperson (Moss) regarding a response to the letter from County Administrator John Gibbs; Consideration of complaints against County Administrator John Gibbs; Consideration of an offer of resignation from County Administrator John Gibbs.
Following a two-hour closed door session in which the board, with corporate counsel David Kallman, met with Gibbs and his retained attorney, Moss emerged and called for a vote on placing Gibbs on adminstrative leave. The measure passed, with one no vote coming from third term District 3 Commissioner Doug Zylstra (D-Holland)
The Holland Sentinel reported in its Thursday’s edition about a letter dated January 15th in which an attorney representing Gibbs that, should the board involve any discussion of changing Mr. Gibbs’ employment status with Ottawa County, it would be his client’s intention to ensure the provisions of his contract are followed in strict order. The board retained an attorney to address the letter earlier this month, and the newspaper said that a second letter from a new attorney representing Gibbs said that his client voiced concerns about county corporation council Kallman Legal Group dating back from last March, which has led to tension between the board and the administrator. The second letter defended Gibbs’ actions, and said that the county should honor its current contract with him through the beginning of 2026, proceed with what Gibbs’ calls an unlawful termination, or negotiate a resignation settlement.
Such a settlement would involve a lump sum severance of nine months pay, along with nine months of health insurance, which the Sentinel reports would come to around $630,000.
Before the board went into a closed door meeting on the matter, Moss made the following statement.
Ottawa County Commissioners are expected to take up the matter again next week.
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