The Comstock Township Board voted Monday night to terminate the contract of Superintendent Scott Hess without cause, contingent on Hess signing a waiver of liability, a decision that came after more than an hour of board discussion, a failed motion to postpone, and a recess.
The Vote
The motion was made by Clerk Nicole Beauchamp and seconded by Trustee Kristie Cherry. The board voted to terminate Hess’s employment without cause, with the termination contingent upon Hess signing a liability release.
The roll call vote was 4-3. Voting yes: Clerk Beauchamp, Trustee Cherry, Trustee McIver, and Trustee Pratt. Voting no: Supervisor Martin, Treasurer Bloomfield, and Trustee Amos.
The motion carried.
How It Unfolded
The item appeared on the agenda under Business — Clerk — Superintendent Contract. Clerk Beauchamp introduced a resolution for termination of the superintendent’s contract without cause, with a motion and second made immediately. Township Attorney Thall said he had not seen the resolution before the meeting.
Several board members said they had not reviewed the documents before them. Supervisor Martin said the information had been brought to him that day. A motion to postpone was made but failed, with Cherry, McIver, Pratt, and Beauchamp declining to support postponement. Treasurer Bloomfield said she wanted more input from the township attorney before proceeding, noting that taxpayer funds were involved.
The board then took a recess to allow members to review the documents. After returning, Attorney Thall advised the board that requiring a liability release from Hess was important if proceeding with a termination without cause, to reduce the risk of future legal action against the township. The motion was then amended to include the liability release condition before the final vote.
The full board discussion prior to the vote covered significant background and context. We recommend watching the complete meeting recording for a fuller picture of the discussion and the considerations board members raised before the final vote.
