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Ottawa County agrees to 12 months’ pay, no insurance, for Interim Administrator Benjamin Wetmore
Summary
During a second closed session Dec. 10, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners reached consensus to offer Interim Administrator Benjamin Wetmore 12 months’ pay without insurance as a separation package; Wetmore reportedly rejected a lower offer.
During a separate closed session that began at 1:03 p.m. on Dec. 10, Chairperson Joe Moss told commissioners that Interim Administrator Benjamin Wetmore had asked to be dismissed and that the new board planned to replace him after the first of the year. At the outset, board members reviewed a draft Separation and Release Agreement prepared by HR legal counsel.
Commissioner Doug Zylstra advocated three months’ severance and immediate separation, while several other commissioners initially proposed three months with benefits. A number of commissioners — Allison Miedema, Roger Belknap, Sylvia Rhodea, Joe Moss, Kendra Wenzel and Gretchen Cosby — signaled support for 12 months’ pay. Corporation Counsel Lanae Monera was sent to ask Mr. Wetmore if he would accept eight months; Monera reported back that Wetmore would prefer "12 months salary and no insurance." Chairperson Moss later told Wetmore he asked if he would accept six months, and Wetmore declined.
The minutes record that the board reached a consensus to offer 12 months’ pay with no benefits. A motion to leave closed session was made and the motion passed at 2:09 p.m. The transcript does not include the final separation agreement or whether Wetmore accepted the offer.
