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Commissioners table proposal to give county administrator settlement authority after debate
Summary
A late-added resolution that would have authorized the county administrator to make administrative settlements and ratify past settlements was debated and tabled for further review after commissioners raised concerns about delegation, thresholds and Board oversight.
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners on May 19 voted to table a late-added resolution that would grant the county administrator authority to make certain settlement agreements and ratify past administrative settlements.
Commissioner Alan Campbell moved to table the item, arguing the policy as written could require Board members to rely on a recommendation from the administrator or legal counsel before taking action on settlements, effectively ceding decision authority. "That means if we decide we want to make a settlement that we have to get approval from the folks we hire and that to him makes no sense," Campbell said during debate.
Commissioner Gwenne Allgaier countered that the policy is a reasonable management tool to give the administrator flexibility and is not intended to micromanage staff; she urged colleagues to allow management the tools to operate efficiently. Chair Steve Yoder said he did not mind tabling the policy and asked commissioners to send suggested changes to the administrator and legal counsel before the next executive-board meeting so the Board could act promptly.
Commissioner Ty Wessell asked that the Board aim to resolve the issue at the next meeting. The motion to table carried unanimously. The Board agreed to seek legal input and to return the item for discussion at the Executive Board meeting in June.
