Ottawa County board chair: Proposed pay increase ‘invalid’

OLIVE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — Ottawa County commissioners were expected to vote Tuesday morning on a measure to increase their pay, but the measure was removed from the agenda at the last minute.

The measure proposed by the Officers’ Compensation Commission would have increased commissioners’ salaries by 60% from about $21,000 yearly to about $33,000, plus an additional raise for the board chair and vice chair. The proposal also included a $1,000 monthly stipend.

Explaining why the matter was removed from the Tuesday agenda, Commission Chair Joe Moss told those in attendance at the meeting that the proposal sent to the board was “invalid.”

He said that the Compensation Commission has between March 11 and April 25 to determine salaries, but that Chair Larry Jackson — who was appointed by the previous board — called a meeting on May 2, outside the 45-day window. Moss said that meeting yielded the resolution for what he described as a “phantom” 60% raise.

Moss added there was a Compensation Commission meeting on April 11, which is within the 45-day window. However, he said, a 3-1 vote that approved the raise proposal was still no good because state law requires a minimum of four yes votes.

“The vote on April 11 that supposedly approved the 60 percent raise was 3-1 at that meeting. The law requires in MCL 45.474 that there be a minimum of four yes votes. So to be clear, Larry Johnson signed and submitted an invalid resolution in violation of MCL 45.474,” said Moss.

That means that for now, there are no scheduled raises for the board this or next year.

Moss did not say why commissioners waited until Tuesday morning to remove the proposal from the agenda, though it had been 12 days since the May 2 meeting.

At least three county commissioners had planned to vote no on the proposed raise. Among them was Doug Zylstra, a Democrat from Holland. In an interview with News 8 on Monday, he said his concern was with how large the increase was.

Zylstra explained that he generally supports raising salaries, offering monthly stipends and providing health care for the commission, especially to encourage parents to serve in public office. He supported a raise around 6% and a stipend of around $500. He said recent events did not warrant more.

“We’ve seen a lot of actions around (Administrative Health Officer) Adeline Hambley that I don’t think are intrinsic to our role as commissioners. I think they’ve been a diversion,” Zylstra argued. “Definitely, they’ve taken a lot of time. I would hope in the future we don’t undertake those actions so we don’t force ourselves to be working 30, 40 hours a week — going to Muskegon (County) court, for example, to testify.”

Commissioner Jacob Bonnema, a Republican from the Zeeland area, also disagreed with the proposal, which he called an “abuse of our tax dollars.” Commissioner Roger Bergman, a Republican representing the tri-cities, also said he would vote no, telling News 8 over the phone before Tuesday’s meeting that the proposal would cost county taxpayers $300,000 yearly.

News 8 did not hear back from any of the commissioners backed by Moss’ conservative political action group Ottawa Impact. But in a statement posted on her website on May 5, Commission Vice Chair Sylvia Rhodea, an Ottawa Impact-backed Republican from Allendale, said, “I personally do not wish for Ottawa County to lose quality commissioners due to lack of pay, nor do I want excellent leaders in our community to be unable to run due to a need to provide for their families.”

While Rhodea said that the proposal was ‘independently’ approved by the officer’s compensation commission, Bonnema said it was brought forward by member Angela Loreth, an Ottawa Impact donor. According to the Holland Sentinel, the proposal was seconded by Mark Brouwer, whose wife donated to Ottawa Impact three years ago.

Following defeat in last week’s recall election, Commissioner Lucy Ebel of the Holland area, who is backed by Ottawa Impact, was still expected to participate in the meeting — though she arrived late. Ottawa County Clerk Justin Roebuck explained that the recall results will not be certified until Wednesday. Telling the Grand Haven Tribune his office has not received any claims of wrongdoing or fraud, he also warned residents about jumping to conclusions if their candidate does not win.

“I think what truly bothers me is when my voters essentially are accused of wrongdoing baselessly by individuals with no data or no set of facts to back that up,” Roebuck said. “I actually get pretty protective of that.”

Ottawa County Commissioner Lucy Ebel recalled by voters

With 60% and a margin of about 800 votes, the unofficial results have Democrat challenger Chris Kleinjans beating Ebel. Once they are certified, Ebel has six days to request a recount, which her campaign would have to pay for. There is no word yet from her or Ottawa Impact on whether they pan to seek a recount.

Kleinjans is expected to be sworn in on May 28.

News 8 has learned that Ebel will file to run for her seat again later this year.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.