TRAVERSE CITY — Grand Traverse County Road commissioners will decide if they should offer their departing manager a severance package to avoid a lawsuit.
Attorneys for the road commission and Manager Mary Gillis have held discussions regarding Gillis' separation package after her contract expires Oct. 16. The commission and attorney Janis Adams were supposed to meet Tuesday morning in closed session to discuss potential litigation, but Adams failed to show, officials said.
The meeting was rescheduled for today at 7:30 a.m. at the road commission offices.
"I have absolutely no idea what we are going to do, but I suspect Janis will offer us a recommended settlement of some sort," said John Nelson, road commissioner. "Then it will all come down to what the majority of the board wants to do."
Gillis said she has not threatened to file a lawsuit or made any other formal complaint against the road board. She declined to discuss details of the proposed settlement.
"Basically, I've done what they asked and had my attorney get with them regarding my separation from the road commission," Gillis said.
In May road Commissioners Marc McKellar, Dave Taylor, and Carl Brown voted against extending Gillis' contract. They did not cite specifics, but Gillis' relationship with three of the board's five members had steadily deteriorated over the previous year, including public complaints and criticism of Gillis at meetings.
An uneasy truce ensued after Adams warned the board against making statements that might harm Gillis' reputation.
McKellar did not return calls seeking comment.
Gillis has continued to show up to work, and managed the commission's construction projects over the summer.
"I'm doing the job; I've always done the job," Gillis said.
Gillis also lined up another job. She'll return to the Oakland County Road Commission as director of central operations, where she worked before taking the Grand Traverse job in 2006.
The Grand Traverse road board received 44 applications to replace Gillis and is in the process of reviewing applicants. The board has not yet scheduled any interviews.
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Mary Gillis
Board considers severance package for ex-manager
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