Commissioners vote to remove 3 CMHSAS members

Two weeks after county commissioners voted to begin the process of removing three members from the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Authority Board of St. Joseph County, the matter came to a head during Tuesday’s meeting.
Despite strongly worded opinions from attorney John Gretzinger, representing CMHSAS board members Gaylene Adams, Larry Walton and Barb Parker, county commissioners voted 4-1 to remove the trio from the board. Commissioner Robin Baker cast the dissenting vote.
Gretzinger disputed the grounds on which the three authority board members were dismissed. Furthermore, he called the county commission a kangaroo court.
Relations between the county board and CMH board have been tense for a number of months, but the breaking point occurred earlier this summer when a letter signed by Parker indicated the CMH would not cooperate in an efficiency study by a Maryland-based firm hired by the county commission.
County commissioners took exception to Parker writing the letter at the direction of the CMHSAS executive board and not its full board.
The next CMHSAS board meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday next week, and Parker and Walton indicated they plan to take their seat at the table.
Adams was not present Tuesday.