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Sand Lake council votes to terminate Nyha Merritt after closed-session legal review
Summary
After an executive session to consider a written legal opinion, the Village of Sand Lake council voted 5-0 on Oct. 13, 2025 to terminate Nyha Merritt and directed the HR Committee to meet with fire department officers to discuss corrective action.
Village President Mollie Doerr and the Sand Lake Village Council voted Oct. 13, 2025 to terminate Nyha Merritt after returning from an executive session held to consider a written legal opinion.
Board member Wright moved to terminate Nyha Merritt and asked attorney Andy Gordon to draft a termination letter; Board member Camilleri seconded the motion. The council approved the motion on a roll-call vote with Yes votes from Mollie Doerr, Wright, Latham, Christensen and Camilleri. Board members Merritt and Helton were recorded as absent. The council returned to open session at 10:50 a.m.
The executive session had been authorized under the Open Meetings Act; the motion referenced MCL 15.268(1)(h) and MCL 15.2685(1)(h) as the statutory bases for exempting the written legal opinion from public discussion. The minutes record that the closed session motion was moved by Board member Christensen and supported by Camilleri.
Separately, Board member Latham moved, with support from Camilleri, that the HR Committee meet with Fire Department officers to discuss corrective action; the motion carried. The minutes note that this direction was given but do not record a separate roll-call vote for that motion or specify a date for the HR Committee meeting.
The meeting opened a public-comment period twice (first at about 10:00 a.m., then at about 11:05 a.m.); no members of the public spoke. Board member Latham asked whether members of the public may attend the HR Committee meeting; the village attorney said attendance by the public would be permitted. The council adjourned at 11:06 a.m.
Next steps documented in the minutes: attorney Andy Gordon was directed to draft a termination letter, and the HR Committee was tasked to meet with Fire Department officers to discuss corrective action. The minutes do not specify further disciplinary details or a timeline for the HR Committee’s work.
