Former COA director receives severance package

The former executive director of St. Joseph County Commission on Aging received a six-month severance package, shortly after a Kalamazoo consulting firm recommended that she be terminated for creating what it called a “toxic and manipulative” work environment at the agency.
Lynn Coursey denied that charge and said it was her decision to leave the job she had held for 13 years. Coursey, whose salary at the time of her June 30 resignation was nearly $72,000, said she is considering other opportunities and believes the COA made great strides under her tenure.
A June 22 document from a Kalamazoo human resources consulting firm hired by the county to review the COA recommended Coursey be terminated by a separation agreement.
The recommendation came after the firm, HRM Innovations, interviewed 15 COA employees. According to HRM, the majority of the employees interviewed communicated extreme concern with Coursey.
HRM said some COA staff, in fact, indicated they might seek legal representation, causing the consultant to conclude, “Based on some of the specific concerns expressed, Lynn poses a liability to the county for discrimination claims.”