BERRIEN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PLACE ROAD DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR JASON LATHAM ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent

ST. JOSEPH – The management of the Berrien County Road Department is being called into question with the placing of Road Department Director Jason Latham on administrative leave. That action by County Administrator Brian Dissette occurred in early February with the reason for it still unknown.

The subject came up at last week’s Berrien County Board of Commissioners meeting with comments coming from the public and commissioners. The only acknowledgement of the situation on the agenda came in the form of naming an interim road department manager.

County commissioners unanimously approved naming Neil Coulston as the interim road department director. Coulston retired from the city of Niles several years ago where he was the director of the public works department.

The resolution noted that the county administrator can name an interim department head with the approval of the county board. “The County Board of Commissioners authorizes the appointment of Neil Coulston as Interim Road Department Director and authorizes the County Administrator to execute the employment agreement,” it stated.

Coulston’s appointment as the interim road department director was made retroactive to Feb. 9. “He has extensive public works experience along with other service in the public sector,” County Board Chairman Mac Elliott said. “I’m confident that he’s well qualified to serve as interim road department director until the administrative review is completed.”

The first mention of the Latham situation at last week’s county board meeting came in public comments where emails from several people were read in support of the embattled road department director.

Hagar Township Supervisor Izzy DiMaggio said he had worked with Latham when the latter worked for the Michigan Department of Transportation as well as with Berrien County. “He is a first class person, he is extremely knowledgeable and brought professionalism to the department,” DiMaggio said.

He also praised the PASER (Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating) road rating system Latham instituted. That system has allowed for county roads to be inspected and assessed according to set standards, resulting in several county roads to get preventative maintenance, repairs and rehabilitation in recent years.

DiMaggio spoke of past problems with getting roads repaired when there was an independent road commission rather than a road department. He said he had favored disbanding the road commission and making it a county department and that Latham had made that change a successful one.

“He has put together a team that responds to townships and put together plans,” he added. “There has been great communication and cooperation. Any issues that come up are immediately addressed. There has never been any negative discussion of road department performance and the townships have a great relationship with him.”

DiMaggio questioned comments made at a recent county board administration committee meeting where commissioners questioned Latham on specific road department operations, a situation he saw as reminiscent of the micromanaging done in the road commission days.

“It sounds like county board members are micromanaging,” he said. “I ask that you reconsider the administrative leave.”

Lincoln Township Supervisor Dick Stauffer had similar concerns. “I have had no calls, zero, regarding snow removal complaints this year,” he wrote in an email. “When I have a concern, the response has been prompt, fair and professional. I think the road department is well managed.”

Benton Township Treasurer Debbie Boothby was another area official voicing her support of Latham. She said that placing him on administrative leave had caused great concern to area townships and asked to be able to voice their “very real concerns.”

Latham also received statements of support as well as questions about what is going on from residents and road department employees. Road department employees praised Latham’s efforts in developing the PASER road assessment system and his leadership in managing the department.

“Berrien County was one of the first in the state to do the PASER plan for the roads,” they wrote. “He has been recognized for collaboration, communications, operations and asset management by the County Road Association and MDOT. We have seen stability under his leadership, we have faith, confidence and respect for him.”

The only public comment in support of county administration came from Tony Benhart of Sodus. “I am in full support of the county administrator,” he said. “The department shouldn’t be political in any way.”

County commissioners in large part have remained silent on the issue. The only ones making comments at last week meeting were Elliott and County Commissioner Dave Vollrath of Coloma.

Vollrath said people in his district are “very concerned” about what he described as Latham’s “firing”. “My district is very concerned about his firing and how it has been handled,” he said. “It’s a big concern for township supervisors in my area. I think their concerns are warranted and things need to be done.”

Elliott read a statement at the close of the meeting, reiterating the board’s policy not to comment on personnel issues.

“Before today and during the meeting the county board has received public comments on the status of the Berrien County Road Department,” he said. “The board acknowledges that Jason Latham was placed on administrative leave one week ago.”

“The county administrator is currently reviewing the situation,” he added. “Out of respect for Mr. Latham’s privacy and our policy and procedures, neither the board nor the administrator can comment about any of this at this time.”

Latham has been the road department director for the last three years and was previously the Southwest Regional Manager for the Michigan Department of Transportation. He was the first permanent director of the road department after Berrien County Commissioners voted to dissolve the road commission and form the road department in September 2017.

Commissioners took the 2017 action after years of turmoil with the road commission. Then County Administrator William Wolf noted at the time that the road commission has had three managing directors and three interim managing directors since 2011 as well as 15 changes to the road commission membership.