A Township Divided on a $412,000 Question

*Comstock Township taxpayers are facing a bill of more than $412,000 for the termination of their superintendent. The Board of Trustees approved the lump-sum payout to former Superintendent Scott Hess* on Monday night. Hess was fired without cause two weeks earlier in a 4-3 vote.

The payout total is $412,429.94. It includes salary for the remaining 877 days of Hess' contract, a car allowance, and pension contributions, according to the separation agreement reviewed by News Channel 3.

"I do believe that probably the cleanest way to do this is a lump sum payment to cut ties and be done with it," Clerk Nicole Beauchamp said at the meeting, according to WOODTV.

The same four board members who voted to fire Hess also voted to approve the payout. They are Beauchamp, Trustee Kristie Cherry, Trustee Terry McIver, and Trustee Bob Pratt.

Supervisor Ben Martin, Treasurer Sandra Bloomfield, and Trustee Jerry Amos voted against the payout.

The Hostile Workplace Report

The firing comes more than a year after a 66-page attorney report concluded that Hess had a credible claim of a hostile work environment at the township.

The report found evidence supporting Hess' allegations. One incident involved Treasurer Bloomfield allegedly using an expletive toward a contractor during a meeting with Hess. Staff members reported hearing the outburst and feeling uncomfortable, according to the document cited by WOODTV.

The report also found that Bloomfield discussed Hess' performance during an open board meeting without first moving to a closed session. Township attorneys later confirmed the cost figures in question were accurate. Bloomfield submitted a written apology, according to the report.

"Mr. Hess has demonstrated a colorable claim of a hostile work environment and age-based discrimination," the attorney report stated, according to WOODTV.

Hess requested to negotiate a contract buyout on February 24, 2025. He never received one.

Bloomfield called the report "a localized weapon of mass distraction" in an interview with WOODTV.

"If Mr. Hess genuinely encountered a 'hostile work environment,' he had the absolute right to resign at any point. He didn't," Bloomfield said.

A Lawsuit Seeks to Block the Payment

Comstock Township resident Dena O'Connor filed a lawsuit in Kalamazoo County Circuit Court to stop the payout. The case, filed under Case No. 2026-0425-CZ, does not seek money damages for the plaintiff. It asks a judge to determine whether the township has the legal authority to make the payment, according to court documents reviewed by FAFO Justice.

O'Connor flagged a discrepancy in the lawsuit. Hess' most recent contract amendment sets his annual salary at $141,297. The separation agreement calculates his daily salary using an annual base of $145,536. No public document explains the difference, according to News Channel 3.

Circuit Court Judge Curtis J. Bell signed an order on June 9 requiring the board to appear in court regarding injunctive relief. A hearing is scheduled for August 1, according to court records.

"Plaintiff sought judicial review before substantial public funds were irrevocably expended," the court document stated, according to WOODTV.

Township Attorney Robert Thall told the board the lawsuit would not prevent the agreement from moving forward. He said the matter had been submitted to the township's insurance carrier, according to WOODTV.

The Board's Internal Fight

The June 15 meeting featured heated exchanges between board members.

Martin moved to require Trustee Cherry to abstain from the payout vote. Martin cited a letter Hess signed in April 2025 that determined structures on Cherry's property were grandfathered and not subject to ordinance enforcement. Martin said that determination was later contradicted by township enforcement officials, creating the appearance of a conflict of interest, according to WWMT.

The motion to require Cherry's abstention failed 3-3. Michigan charter township law requires a unanimous vote for a member to abstain, according to Thall.

Martin then moved to authorize an investigation into whether termination for cause was warranted. Such a finding would eliminate the taxpayer-funded payout. That motion also failed 4-3.

"How could you make sense of $400,000 of these people's money for no cause?" Martin said, according to WWMT.

"You are adults with a fiduciary duty, and you're going to give away $400,000 for no reason? I've never seen anything like this in life. You should be disgusted with yourself," Martin added.

Bloomfield accused three board members of colluding with Hess before the termination vote. She said she had asked all six board members whether they had spoken with Hess about the payout. Three said yes, according to WWMT.

"That is collusion. Where is your fiduciary responsibility?" Bloomfield said.

Trustee Jerry Amos, who voted against the payout, echoed the concern.

"I can't believe you are willing to give out more than $412,000 without an investigation. It is totally unbelievable," Amos said, according to WWMT.

Trustee McIver defended the payout. He said Hess was "dragged through the mud" and deserved to have his contract honored, according to WOODTV.

What Comes Next

Martin said he will carry out the responsibilities of the superintendent as supervisor while the township searches for a replacement, according to WOODTV.

Multiple trustees face recall petitions. Bloomfield stated in an interview that the termination was "a coordinated push by the four board members currently facing recall," according to WWMT.

The August 1 court hearing will determine whether the payout can proceed or whether a judge will block it pending further review. If the money is paid before the hearing, O'Connor's lawsuit asserts that recovering the funds for taxpayers could be "difficult, delayed, or impossible," according to FAFO Justice.

The township has not specified whether the payout will come from reserves or require budget adjustments.

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