Wayne County panel extends delegated settlement authority to corporation counsel up to $35,000

The Wayne County Government Operations Committee on the record approved a resolution extending delegated settlement authority for an additional year, permitting the county corporation counsel to settle cases and accept awards, proposed settlements or judgments up to $35,000.

Suhumu, deputy corporation counsel, introduced the proposal and said, “This is a delegated settlement authority resolution, that has been in place for lots and lots of years, that basically just increases efficiency in the matters that have to come before you for approval. We do report to you what if there are any on a quarterly basis, if there are any settlements that we do settle under the delegated authority.” The deputy counsel confirmed the delegation being requested covers settlements up to $35,000.

Commissioner Killeen moved to approve the resolution; Commissioner Peterson Mayberry seconded, commissioners voted using tablets, and the chair announced that the motion carried. The measure extends an existing administrative practice intended to allow staff to resolve lower-value claims without requiring full commission action while preserving a public reporting requirement.

During the same meeting, the commission considered a separate litigation matter, County of Wayne v. Lakeshore Signs and Safety LLC. Corporation counsel advised that discussing trial or settlement strategy in open session would be detrimental to the county’s litigation or settlement position and requested a closed client–counsel session. The commission voted to enter closed session on that basis; a subsequent public motion on item 2 was recorded as made by Commissioner Wilson and seconded by Commissioner Killeen, and the chair announced the motion carried. The transcript does not include the text of that post-closed-session motion or the settlement terms in open session, so it is not possible from the public record to confirm whether the commission approved settlement terms or simply took another procedural step.

No emails or remote participants requested to speak during public comment, and no in-chamber speakers were recorded; the public comment period was closed. The meeting record shows the clerk and chair handled routine items including approval of the Nov. 25 minutes (moved by Commissioner Klee and seconded by Commissioner Peterson Mayberry) and a motion to adjourn appears near the end of the transcript; the final adjournment vote is not captured in the provided record.

What happens next: The delegated authority extension is effective for the one-year period specified in the resolution; any settlements completed under the delegation are reported to the commission on a quarterly basis, per the deputy counsel’s remarks.