Scottville commission to address revenue sharing mishap; keeps manager on leave.

Courtney Magaluk

Scottville commission to address revenue sharing mishap; keeps manager on leave.

SCOTTVILLE — The City Commission learned Monday, during its regular meeting, that the investigation into why the city nearly missed the state revenue sharing filing deadline had been complete and presented to the employee in question. That employee has sent a response to City Attorney Carlos Alvarado and has requested a closed session meeting with the commission. During Monday’s meeting, the commission scheduled a special meeting, to be held on Monday, Jan. 18, at 5:30 p.m., one hour prior to the regular meeting. During the special meeting, the commission will go into closed session, at the request of the employee, to discuss the report.

During the commission’s Dec. 4, 2020 regular meeting, commissioners learned from Acting City Manager/Police Chief Matt Murphy that the city nearly missed the Michigan Department of Treasury’s filing deadline. Murphy reported to the commission that the city received a communication from the Michigan Department of Treasury on Nov. 25, the day before Thanksgiving, informing the city manager that the state had not yet received its annual revenue sharing report, though an email had been sent to City Manager Courtney Magaluk on Nov. 6. Since Nov. 30 Magaluk has been on maternity leave.

Murphy said he and City Treasurer Kathy Shafer worked several dozen hours, including on Thanksgiving, and over that following weekend, to complete the report and meet the deadline, which was the following week. The city’s state revenue sharing is about $47,000. The city manager is typically responsible for filing revenue sharing reports, according to Mayor Marcy Spencer, though the name of the employee under investigation has not been officially stated.

During the Dec. 4 meeting, the city commission called for the mayor, acting city manager, and city attorney to form an ad-hoc to investigate the matter.

Alvarado said during the Dec. 21 meeting of the commission that much of the investigation had been turned over to Scottville Police Detective Aaron Saylor who found several important “incidents that have some unanswered questions.” Alvarado said Saylor’s report was delivered to the committee on Dec. 17.

Matt Murphy

Magaluk has been on an arranged medical leave since Nov. 30. During Monday’s meeting, Alavarado said Magaluk was on family medical leave of absence and had been scheduled to begin working again on a part-time basis, with much of her work being based out of her home. On Monday, the commission took action rescinding its authorization for Magaluk to work remotely at a reduced number of hours over the current two week pay period from Jan. 3 through Jan. 16.

Monday’s commission meeting was held via Zoom. During public comment Magaluk addressed the commission asking it to consider voting against the item to rescind authorization for her to work from home.

The motion was approved unanimously by the commission.

Alvarado said Magaluk would continue to be on leave, which was extended during the Dec. 21 commission meeting.

Magaluk was hired in July 20, 2019 following the resignation of long-time city manager Amy Williams. Police Chief Matt Murphy has been serving as acting city manager during Magaluk’s leave.

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