Leelanau County Administrator Placed On Leave Pending Internal Investigation

The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to place County Administrator Jim Dyer on paid administrative leave at their executive board session on Tuesday morning, “pending an internal investigation” over an undisclosed issue. Lauren Cypher, Dyer’s executive assistant, has been appointed interim county administrator.

Dyer was not present at Tuesday’s executive board meeting. Cypher attended in his stead. Dyer’s absence went unremarked upon as the meeting began, though Board Chair Steve Yoder almost immediately asked for a motion “to suspend board rules” and add a new item to the beginning of the agenda. 

Commissioners also moved to strike several administrative items from the agenda – including policy updates for “accounting and financial reporting” and “annual audit policy" and other items.

But Dyer’s absence didn’t go unnoticed by the public.

“Nothing was said about the administrator’s update, and nothing was said to the public here [about] why the administrator is not present,” said local resident Stephen Mikowski in public comment. The administrator update, during which Dyer shares progress reports on pending business with commissioners, typically occurs early in the meeting, but was skipped over.

“I find it very peculiar, and very untransparent,” Mikowski said. “I think if you have things on the agenda that have always been there…you are required to tell the public why certain things are not going to happen. I am very ashamed for all of you for failing to mention why that occurred…”

The reason for Dyer’s absence became apparent minutes later when Commissioner Gwenne Allgaier read a motion for the board to “place the administrator on paid administrative leave effective immediately, pending further review and direction by the board,” which commissioners unanimously approved. There was no discussion and no justification given for the action, though Yoder told the public that more details would be shared at a special session scheduled for 1pm Tuesday. 

Reached by The Ticker in between the executive board session and the special meeting, Dyer said he believed the board’s move to place him on leave stemmed from a staff complaint made against him, but that he couldn’t comment on the complaint’s specifics “because I don't even know what it's about at this point.”

“I've just been told that [me going on leave] was the board's preference. And actually, based upon the content of what I was told, I suggested that administrative leave was appropriate,” Dyer says. “I think they were going to do that regardless of my suggestion, but I think it's an employee complaint and they're dealing with it appropriately.”

“I’ve asked, if this is a complaint, that I be given access to a copy, so I know what’s being said and can respond,” Dyer adds.

Former County Finance Director Cathy Hartesvelt filed a complaint against Dyer last year, but the administrator was never placed on leave and was ultimately exonerated of any policy violations. Hartesvelt was later fired for insubordination. In March, outgoing finance department account clerk Elizabeth Gray wrote an exit letter blasting Dyer for “physical intimidation,” “administrative negligence,” and “disregard for the stability of the finance department,” among other grievances. 

At Tuesday afternoon's special meeting, the board spent more than an hour and a half in closed session “to consider an attorney-client privileged communication.” After coming back into open session, commissioners unanimously approved three motions. The first was to appoint Cypher as interim county administrator through at least August 18. The second was “to authorize the board chair to direct county legal counsel, and any other outside professionals, to investigate certain complaints related to county administration, and to report findings and recommendations to the board as appropriate.” Finally, the third authorized Yoder “to provide a media statement on behalf of the Board of Commissioners, and authorize the chair to address other common personnel practices.”

That statement, which Yoder provided to The Ticker on Tuesday afternoon, is as follows:

“The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners confirms that the County Administrator has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation. This administrative action is procedural in nature, and no findings or conclusions have been reached at this time. To ensure continuity of operations, the Board has designated Lauren Cypher to serve as Interim County Administrator. County services will continue without interruption. Consistent with established practices and to protect the integrity of the process, the County will not provide additional comment while the internal investigation is ongoing. Updates will be provided as appropriate.”