Board begins director termination process

Members of the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Board of St. Joseph County have agreed to begin the process of terminating the agency’s executive director.
​Following an 80-minute executive session at the onset of Tuesday’s meeting, the board approved a motion to schedule a hearing at its August meeting to commence the procedure of discharging Elizabeth O’Dell.
​There was no discussion after the motion was seconded; it passed unanimously.
​O’Dell has been on paid leave since the board in April authorized a full audit of the Centreville-based agency. Board members said O’Dell’s suspension during the course of the audit was necessary to ensure its honesty, sincerity and integrity.
Details of the audit were not disclosed Tuesday, though its findings will be public record eventually, according to board president Tim Carmichael.
​Carmichael said O’Dell will have an opportunity to respond at the next board meeting, which is scheduled to take place Aug. 22.