Wadena County Commissioners: Citizens speak out against severance pay for former administrator
by Trinity Gruenberg
The Wadena County Commissioners held their regular meeting on Tuesday, November 5.
Concerned citizens speak out against former county
administrator’s severance pay
Brian Hagen said he was speaking on behalf of upset taxpayers about the three-month severance, along with earned leave, for the former county coordinator who resigned.
The board asked former county administrator CJ Holl to resign.
Hagen discussed Holl’s contract, which stated the severance didn’t have to be paid if Holl resigned. During the closed session on Holl’s review, the board agreed to pay the severance per his request.
Hagen found it difficult to believe that David Drown Associates (DDA) consulting services would agree to the severance and asked if there was a clause in the contract that stated if you didn’t perform your duties in the first year, they would pay you to leave?
Commissioner Bill Stearns added he believed it did come from DDA as they were used to search for a county administrator. And to get a pool of qualified candidates, with a year to part ways and the severance, was an incentive. He added that if there was a termination after that year, he said it would cost more as it would probably end up in court....