By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH – Berrien County has formally parted ways with Berrien County Road Director Jason Latham. Latham has been put on administrative leave earlier this year, an action that led several area township leaders to question why and demand answers.
Township leaders said they had had a good relationship with Latham during his tenure at the road department. They were concerned about the uncertainty caused by Latham’s being placed on leave and what that would mean for scheduled road work. They questioned whether commissioners were starting to micromanage the department.
While commissioners and County Administrator Brian Dissette have been closed lip about the Latham situation over the weeks, commissioners did take action in February to put new interim leadership in place in the department. They hired retired Niles Public Works Director Neil Coulston to be the interim director starting Feb. 9.
Although answers have never been forthcoming, last week’s Berrien County Board of Commissioners meeting did bring a resolution to the situation with the approval of the terms of Latham’s departure. Latham had been the road department director since February 2018 and previously worked for the Michigan Department of Transportation.
The agreement approved last week was signed by Latham on March 8 and the county on March 11.
“On Thursday, March 11, 2021, the Board of Commissioners approved a settlement with Mr. Jason Latham,” County Board Chair Mac Elliott said in a statement released to the media. “We wish Mr. Latham well in his new endeavors.”
“In the coming weeks, we will begin the process of identifying the best person to lead the County Road Department. As part of our commitment to transparency, we are providing a copy of signed settlement agreement.”
The resolution approved by the county board states in part that “Whereas, the two parties, Berrien County and Jason Latham, mutually desire to amicably sever their employment relationship.”
The agreement spelled out the terms of Latham’s separation including his immediate resignation and his agreement to not pursue any claim against the county. The county will pay $28,836.25 to Latham which represents three months’ worth of salary as well as $8,894.18 for his unused vacation days.
Other details of the agreement include that the county will transfer ownership of Latham’s cell phone and cell phone number to him and will allow him to keep retirement and health insurance benefits. He agreed to not seek employment with the county in the future.
Also last week, commissioners approved a resolution in support of a Michigan State Senate bill that would the extend the deadline allowing for the holding of virtual public meetings.
Commissioners voted unanimously to support Senate Bill 207 which was introduced in early March. The bill if approved by senate and house and signed into law by the governor would extend the window for holding virtual meetings through June 30, 2021.
Elliott noted that the Open Meetings Act amendment approved by the legislature and signed by the governor in December allows governmental bodies to hold virtual meetings through the end of March. Virtual meetings have been allowed since the start of the pandemic last spring by both executive order and legislation.
Dissette told commissioners that the virtual meetings issue is important not only to the county board but other local boards including township boards, school boards and city and village boards. “It’s something affects all of the county,” he said.
He noted that the most recent Michigan Department of Health and Human Services order issued March 5 still limits the size of public gatherings. “We are still limited to a total of 25 people no matter how big the meeting room is and it still requires six feet social distancing,” he said.
“If we had to shift to in person meetings, we would have to come with space to accommodate the board and the public,” he noted.
He said local officials have said they have actually been thriving under the virtual meeting rules and have questions about what happens if the state doesn’t act to extend the deadline. “If this is not approved in the legislature, local people will be asking for the county to issue a state of emergency to allow them to meet virtually,” he said.
County Commissioner Julie Wuerfel said she recognized the need for virtual meetings but encouraged Dissette and fellow commissioners to be “leaders in the community” and start having hybrid meetings. Hybrid meetings, which some local boards have followed, allows the public body to meet together in person with the public attending virtually.
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