After a dramatic interaction between himself and the Porter County Council Tuesday night time Mitch Peters, president of the Indiana Dunes Tourism Board, managed to carry onto his submit – for now.

Council President Mike Brickner, R-At-Massive, Vice President Crimson Stone, R-1st, and member Andy Vasquez, R-4th, voted to take away him, whereas members Greg Simms, D-Third, Sylvia Graham, D-At-Massive, and Andy Bozak, R-At-Massive, voted to retain him leading to a tie as a result of member Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd, was absent.

Board of Commissioners President Jim Biggs, R-North, mentioned by telephone Wednesday that he’ll name for a restructuring of that board, eradicating Peters by default, on the subsequent commissioners assembly on Could 14. He mentioned an evaluation of the state statute dictating the make-up of county tourism boards reveals these serving should be employed in tourism.

Peters is a protection lawyer concerned with amenities for males popping out of dependancy.

Peters, flanked by new Dunes Tourism CEO Christine Livingston and 5 members of that board’s govt committee, addressed the council on the finish of its assembly, providing up apologies for the dealing with of the departure of former IDT CEO Lorelei Weimer, who left the submit in January with a $225,000 severance bundle.

“We weren’t as accountable as we should always have been,” he mentioned. “We recognize that every of you’re accountable to the voters of Porter County. This isn’t going to occur once more.”

Peters and Livingston gave a short rundown of the modifications they’re making to IDT to make it extra community-focused with an emphasis on partnerships with sister organizations such because the Porter County Expo Middle and Memorial Opera Home.

Whereas he remained well mannered and complimentary of the “knowledge” represented by the IDT board members in attendance, Brickner, after talking at size following an absence in current months for medical causes, known as for a vote to take away Peters, who was reappointed by the council to the 11-member board in January. Peters has been on the board for 14 years and president for 13.

“Our duty as a council is to the taxpayers. I take into account our appointments as an extension of the council,” Brickner mentioned. “I’m disillusioned. This isn’t private, however once we appoint somebody, I count on transparency.”

Stone mentioned he spoke to Weimer for 4 hours on the eve of her non-disclosure settlement taking impact. “She didn’t lie. She didn’t cheat. And she or he didn’t steal. That’s what you mentioned,” he mentioned to Peters. “I imagine we have been misled to move the $225,000.”

Vasquez mentioned his vote to approve the settlement would have been completely different if he had had extra info. “I believe I used to be misled,” he mentioned.

Bozak, who identified that he voted in opposition to the settlement, additionally argued in opposition to eradicating Peters. “I additionally suppose if we take away Mitch right now that causes plenty of turmoil,” he mentioned.

Graham agreed. “Am I blissful the way it turned out? No, however we now have to go on,” she mentioned. “To say that he has to go in spite of everything his years of experience . . . He screwed up, however haven’t all of us?”

IDT board member Don Ensign, who can be one of many board members eliminated for lack of a tourism background, based on Biggs, defended Peters, saying the motive force behind all of the board’s decisions throughout the settlement negotiation with Weimer was ensuring “Lorelei was given an excessive amount of dignity and respect.”

He mentioned the board was “completely incorrect” in not apprising the council of that course of whereas it was occurring.

“I didn’t know I used to be going to be known as in right here and known as a liar. You’ve known as me a liar,” Peters mentioned, including that he was not going to get into particulars about Weimer as a result of there’s a non-disclosure settlement relating to her departure.

“Now,” Stone replied. “Now there’s.”

Simms wished to desk the vote till Rivas could possibly be current.

“Nicely, we now have a quorum,” Vasquez responded.

Weimer, who sat behind the room all through the assembly, was invited to come back to the microphone. IDT board member Richard Riley spoke as much as say the vote on Peters wanted to occur first.

The council seemed to their lawyer Harold Harper for clarification on the principles of order. He mentioned it was on the discretion of the council president whether or not Weimer was allowed to talk earlier than or after the vote.

She was invited up. She instructed the council she was instructed by the IDT board and its lawyer David Hollenbeck that she might both retire or be fired. She added that whereas it was clearly a violation of the Open Door Legislation, she was instructed the IDT board had the votes lined as much as fireplace her.

“I mentioned I couldn’t take this danger and Dave mentioned, ‘That’s in all probability a very good determination,’” Weimer mentioned. “No one has any thought what this man has executed to me since August.”

“Are you speaking about me?” Peters requested her.

“Sure,” she replied.

Shelley Jones is a contract reporter for the Put up-Tribune.