OTTAWA COUNTY, Mich. — After over a year of her position, the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners has voted unanimously to keep Adeline Hambley as the County's Health Officer.
"We're thrilled," said Hambley's attorney Sarah Howard. "My client has tried multiple times since filing this case to end up at this outcome where she was able to stay in the job that she has as the recognized health officer and to do the job as it's meant to be done under the public health code, and we are gratified that this is where we ended up today."
Ongoing legal fights between Hambley and the county began on Jan. 3, 2023, when the board voted to remove Hambley from her position and designate her as Interim Health Officer - an effort coupled with a push to name Nathaniel Kelly to the Health Officer position.
Hambley's lawsuit against the county continued through the year, including amid termination hearings held in late 2023.
While the Michigan Court of Appeals had ruled Hambley was rightfully appointed to the position the year before, the termination hearings were to determine whether to once again attempt to remove her for what some commissioners alleged to be her incompetence and misconduct in the role during the county budget process.
During that process, Hambley had spoken publicly about what she believed to be proposed funding levels for her department that were low enough to cause the department's closure within a matter of weeks into the new fiscal year.
Now, as commissioners voted to keep Hambley in the position, they also agreed to drop their termination proceedings and establish a future process by which Hambley would need to be properly removed.
According to Howard, if Hambley were to ever be fired, there would need to be agreement on such a move from a new, three-person panel. One person on the panel would be appointed by the county, one would be appointed by Hambley and the third would be the mediator that has been involved in Hambley-County negotiations. That stipulation will stay intact until Jan. 7, 2025 when the new Ottawa County Board would take over.
Hambley also has the right to see outside legal counsel when questions arise over health department issues, instead of consulting the county attorney.
"She felt it was really important to have independent counsel, that is not beholden to this particular board, and someone with deep experience in the public health code," said Howard.
The board released a statement following the decision. They said they're looking to the future.
"Ottawa County is pleased that this matter has been resolved. We look forward to focusing all of our efforts on the great work of our departments, offices, and courts," said Deputy County Administrator Ben Wetmore.
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