OLIVE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A hearing continues as Ottawa County commissioners consider whether or not to fire the county’s top health official, with Administrative Health Office Adeline Hambley herself and the county administrator expected to testify.
The hearing for Hambley’s removal, which began Tuesday, resumed at 8 a.m. today at the County Administration Building in West Olive. It is being streamed live on woodtv.com.
Hambley’s attorney, Sarah Howard, expected testimony from Hambley and County Administrator John Gibbs to take about half the day.
That will be followed by public comment, debate among commissioners and potentially a vote.
A document signed by Commission Chair Joe Moss previously laid out county leaders’ case for why she should be terminated, alleging incompetence, neglect and misconduct in the way she handled and communicated to the press about the recent budget process.
County Administrator John Gibbs initially told Hambley to design her department’s budget counting on $2.5 million from the general fund. Hambley said publicly at the time that would shutter her department. Commissioners and Gibbs ultimately decided the health department would get about $4.8 million from the general fund. The health department’s total allocation for the fiscal year, which started Oct. 1, was less than the previous year.
Sarah Howard, Hambley’s attorney, on Tuesday called several witnesses in an attempt to show that Hambley’s actions were not incompetent or neglectful and that Hambley wanted to make sure her department could function properly.
The board’s lawyer, David Kallman, attempted to show that the health department’s budget was not dealt with any differently than any other agency and to disprove Howard’s claims that Gibbs tried to cut Hambley out of budget conversations.
It was not entirely clear whether Kallman would call any witnesses, though he told News 8 that his side is not required to.
Hambley has been embroiled in a legal battle with the conservative commissioners backed by political action committee Ottawa Impact who moved in their first meeting to oust her. In her lawsuit against them filed in February, she argued they were violating state law that requires a board to show cause to fire a health officer. The commissioners, in turn, argued that Hambley’s appointment was never finalized, so she isn’t technically the health officer. Earlier this month, the Michigan Court of Appeals ruled that Hambley was rightfully appointed, but also that the board may fire her if it can prove cause under state law.
In January, commissioners said Nathaniel Kelly would replace Hambley. Earlier this month, the county submitted an application to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to approve his appointment. A letter from MDHHS to Gibbs on Monday informed him that the agency could not consider Kelly while a permanent health officer remained in place.
Kelly, who works as a safety manager at a Grand Rapids heating and cooling system service and repair company, previously criticized COVID-19 mitigation measures like wearing masks and social distancing.