Judge rules three CMHSAS board members reinstated to panel

A Jackson County judge declared Tuesday that the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners did not follow proper procedure when voting last week to remove three people from the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Authority Board of St. Joseph County.
As a result, Gaylene Adams, Larry Walton and board president Barb Parker were reinstated to the 12-member panel and, without incident, took their seats during Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting.
A two-page letter from attorney John Gretzinger, hired to defend the three CMHSAS board members, indicated Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Richard LaFlamme concluded St. Joseph County Commissioners on Aug. 18 acted in a manner “procedurally defective and that there had been no findings of misconduct” by Adams, Walton and Parker.
LaFlamme furthermore directed county commissioners to not take any further action until a lawful procedure is approved by court.
The issue ended up before LaFlamme because St. Joseph County’s judges recused themselves from hearing the case.
LaFlamme staged Tuesday’s hearing at the Jackson County Courthouse.