In late September, Ottawa County Board of Commissioners Chair Joe Moss issued a Notice of hearing to remove interim Administrative Health Officer, Adeline Hambley, from her position.
Hambley’s request to postpone the October 19th Michigan Court of Appeals termination hearing has been denied by Presiding Judge Michelle Rick.
On September 27th when Moss requested the hearing a corresponding news release alleged Hambley had, “demonstrated incompetence, misconduct, and neglect of duty by making false public representations about budgetary scenarios, falsely claiming that she was not included in the budget process, failing to cooperate in the budget process, and making false claims that encouraged and caused confusion, anxiety, fear, and panic in the community.”
Hambley maintains Ottawa County’s leadership is engaging in “retaliatory politics” as punishment for government ordered mask mandates and COVID vaccine requirements during the pandemic.
In January, Moss voted to terminate Hambley. The effort failed and Hambley filed a wrongful termination lawsuit which is pending in court.