OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. — The final vote to decide if Ottawa County Health Officer Adeline Hambley will remain in her position has been postponed. It will now take place Monday, Nov. 6.
The vote was originally scheduled to take place last Wednesday following the conclusion of two days of testimony. Commissioners moved the vote to Monday morning.
Shortly into the meeting, commissioners again decided to push back the final vote.
A 13 ON YOUR SIDE crew in the meeting said the commissioners made the decision to give themselves more time to consider last week's testimony. Some members of the public in attendance shared their disapproval with the commissioners after they adjourned the meeting.
Hambley's attorney, Sarah Howard, told reporters following Wednesday's hearing she believed the move to delay the vote was "largely performative."
"I don't think there's anybody on that board that doesn't already know how they're voting and I think to drag it out is really more of a disservice to the community," Howard said. "But, that's where we are at the moment."
The charges against Hambley, originally submitted by Board Chair Joe Moss, allege incompetence and neglect of duty from Hambley for actions she took during the county budget process when she spoke to the press and the public about concerns she had over potential cuts to the health department budget.
The decision on the vote is scheduled to take place Monday, Nov. 6 at 9 a.m.
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