A separation agreement between former head of the Southwest Barry County Sewer and Water Authority was verified by the authority board Wednesday.

Mark Doster, who was administrator and project manager of the system, was relieved of his position May 4 when the board eliminated his position and shifted the responsibilities to Plant Manager Scott Monroe while adding interim general manager to his title.

 

The amount of the agreement was not announced, but board Chairman David Messelink said it, “basically amounted to three months,” of Doster’s salary.

 

Doster did not attend the meeting; he had signed the document on May 24, the board just verified it, Messelink said.

 

Doster served on the authority board, and as its chairman before becoming the system’s administrator in 2005, later adding the title of project manager. His dismissal came after weeks of protests about Doster’s pay versus hours worked by Barry County Commissioner David Jackson.

 

Jackson charged that Doster was being paid full time wages for a part time job and was obstructing future sewer expansion plans. Doster’s availability to the public and his attitude on the feasibility of a sewer district to serve Hickory Corners and Gilmore Car Museum also were questioned.

 

The board recently made other changes in the operation of the authority; changing office hours to 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and purchasing a fingerprint/time clock system and security camera systems for both the plant and office.

 

Messelink said authority business will now be more accessible and transparent, and the board will move ahead on plans to provide sewer service to Gilmore’s Car Museum.

“We’re going full steam ahead. We hope to get it done, and I’m fairly confident that we can.”