KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo County government officials are speaking out against a federal lawsuit from the former lawyer for the Kalamazoo Board of Commissioners.
Elizabeth White is alleging that the county, Board Chair Julie Rogers, and Commissioner Stephanie Moore violated the Whistleblower’s Protection Act, wrongful discharge, breach of contract, and violations of the Open Meetings Act when she was voted out of the appointed role on November 6th.
On Friday, a statement from Kalamazoo County Government was released explaining that White’s lawsuit “has no merit” and that she didn’t complete legal work in a timely manner.
The statement reads:
“…Ms. White herself who determined that she did not want to be accountable for timely preparation of contracts, finalizing special projects, and completing other legal documents under the schedule of the Board’s meeting agendas. The members of the Board of Commissioners and its leadership need to be able to rely on the fact that its legal work will be completed timely and that the Board will be given good, solid legal direction prior to and during its business meetings – not afterward. In response to Ms. White’s concerns, the Board of Commissioners offered Ms. White a resignation agreement that was more generous than the terms of her own Employment Agreement. However, the Board’s offer was rejected when she demanded vested pension benefits that simply far exceeded the limits of the County’s Pension Plan for an 18 month employee. The law requires all employees must be treated the same under a qualified Pension Plan. Be assured, the County continues to have good, sound legal representation through municipal attorneys with whom the County holds contracts in place.”
All nine commissioners voted unanimously to relieve the corporate counsel of her duties. White had been on paid administrative leave since October 31.
