Lampman Resigns After Removal by ‘Arc’ Leaders

By
Jan Lampman

MIDLAND, Mich. — Jan Lampman resigned as executive director of the Arc of Midland, shortly after the organization’s executive committee placed her on administrative leave, the City Paper has learned.

The Arc of Midland is a nonprofit organization which promotes the general welfare of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

On Jan. 31, Arc President-elect Kathy Dolan sent an e-mail message to various community leaders, which was obtained by the City Paper.

“Effective immediately, the Executive Committee of the Arc of Midland has placed the Executive Director, Jan Lampman, on administrative leave,” the message read, “The Board has instructed Jan not to go into the office. She has been instructed not to reach out to any of the staff (current or former), providers/partners, clients or the Board until further notice.”

Seven days after Ms. Dolan’s e-mail message, on Friday — three hours after the City Paper sought comment from the Arc — the organization posted an announcement saying that Ms. Lampman had instead resigned.

“Jan has been a friend to many individuals and their family members as they navigated through the systems to connect with needed supports, so they could lead full lives in our community,” the Arc said in its announcement, “The Arc of Midland staff and Board of Directors wish Jan all the best in her future endeavors.“

Arc of Midland President Sarah Murchison insisted that Ms. Lampman resigned, effective on Friday. Ms. Murchison steadfastly refused to comment on the e-mail message which said that Ms. Lampman was placed on administrative leave.

“We all love Jan,” Ms. Murchison told the City Paper. “We’re saddened by her departure and we look forward to being able to work with her in the future.”

Ms. Dolan did not return a telephone message from the City Paper seeking comment.

Ms. Lampman told the City Paper that she resigned due to personal reasons. She declined to elaborate. She also said that she was previously unaware of Ms. Dolan’s e-mail message.

“I am not walking away from my commitment to this community or to people with intellectual/developmental disabilities. You will see me at the grocery store, and at The Arc 5k. It will be nice to be a participant,” Ms. Lampman said in a statement released by the Arc along with the news of her resignation. “I started my connection to The Arc as a member and volunteer. I look forward to continuing my connection to The Arc in that same place, a member and volunteer.”

Laurel Bucci will serve as interim Executive Director.

24 thoughts on “Lampman Resigns After Removal by ‘Arc’ Leaders

  1. Oh NO! The ARC has always been an incredible advocacy group for individuals with disabilities. I hope this is just a misunderstanding.

  2. It’s about time she is nothing but a control freak. She is only nice and smiley in the public eye. Behind closed doors she is a very disrespectful person to the clients and direct support professionals.

    1. You can’t spend a career taking advantage of people who count on you for protection, guidance, and support or being rude and aggressive to community providers without it coming back to you someday.

  3. Jan has been abusive and toxic within the walls of the ARC towards the employees and staff for years! Vulgar, degrading and, for lack of a better term-a bully. The boards failure to remove her implicates them as enablers of her abusive ways. No surprise the director is hiding behind “No comments” and “We love Jan”. Any comment otherwise would expose them as culpable. I say Hurray! Hurray!

    1. I agree. I use to work for her. I had her slam the door in my face, throw things at me and constantly swearing. I had to quit to keep my sanity. She is toxic and I can’t believe she lasted this long.

  4. Jan was very instrumental in helping me with a family member. With her help she was able to get this person into a low income apartment, get her a job, the ability keep her car and pay off bills that had been neglected. I appreciated the effort that this all required.

  5. Jan is a manipulater, liar, and a Narcissist who loves controlling people who dont have many choices in life. I have personally seen her call a client a slut. She loves controlling and feeling above others. Thank God she is finally done!

  6. Jan has ruled through fear and intimidation for years. While she may have helped many throughout her time at the Arc, she has also hurt many. She has been rude, disrespectful and condescending. In the past, the Board has not done their job as they made it impossible to contact them with any issues/concerns because you had to go through Jan first, even if the complaint was about Jan. Board Members phone numbers were not available. She has been allowed too much power, and to a narcissist who enjoys power…not a good combination. I, for one, am celebrating her termination! To those of you who sing her praises, you have no clue what others of us have had to go through!

  7. The quality of life of scores of developmentally disabled people in the Midland community have been improved because of Jan’s efforts. I have been there when she has shown amazing compassion and concern for the disabled and for their families. I have seen her move mountains to help disabled individuals build a better life. I know Jan can be disrespectful of direct care staff. I have been on the receiving end several times. I still admire her for the huge amount of good works she is responsible for, and for all the dignity I have seen her restore to the less fortunate people of our society.

  8. God knew and he provides! Here’s to the people under her guardian ship may you live a happier healthier life with things you needed that she didn’t provide ! And to all the staff that ever worked for her we now can breath and thank God he heard our cry! Amen .

  9. Jan Lampman should go down in history as doing the most in our community to help the developmentally disabled here. I have known her for 25 years. Jan even involved her son in volunteer work with my child. Jan Lampman walked the talk. She saved my cousins life. He was diagnosed with a terminal illness and she got involved with University of Michigan. Today, he is cured and living a fulfilling life with staff helping. The Arc will never find a more dedicated worker. She worked 24/7 on her job and was always there for people who needed her— mo matter what time day or night. I don’t know where all the negative comments are coming from, but remember there are two sides to every story. Jan opened up her home and her heart to those who needed her.

  10. The Board Members do have culpability with how the Arc was run and its reputation in the community! If you were able to reach a Board Member to voice a complaint about Jan, you were told to contact the “Director” of the Arc, which was Jan. Turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to issues within the Arc has finally bitten the Board in the butt. Where are the “checks and balances” if Board Members do not make themselves available to issues/concerns? Things need to change….maybe a Public Guardian should be appointed and guardianships from the Arc be turned over to the Public Guardian. Maybe one should be able to get an actual person via phone when you call the Arc. Having all calls go to voicemails with the response of someone getting back to you in a couple of days does little to “serve the public”, especially those who are challenged. Jan’s resignation, should have happened a long time ago. Hopefully, this development causes some internal reflection/change in operating discipline at the Arc and with its Board Members.

  11. Didn’t like her yelling at me on the phone when I had a concern about a client, my clients were afraid of her as well..Also didn’t think it was appropriate spraying air freshener on the chair in her office after client got up.

  12. I’m sure they’ll find more than the amount of embezzlement she admitted to. Very selective on which clients she would stand for.

  13. Susan, what’s the matter with you???!! There was no embezzlement. In fact, I’ve known Jan to give of her own personal money to clients in need.

  14. Did resign to “save face”, but would have been fired if she wouldn’t have resigned. Heard internal investigation being done. Embezzlement wouldn’t surprise me….heard that rumor for years by people she fired. Hope it all comes out and the Arc makes significant changes!

  15. This is way past due. She put my son in harms way several times. Placing him in two dangerous places to live. One not fit for an animal. I drew the line and backed her down to the point she resigned as my sons guardian and released him from her care. She never did and wouldn’t intimidate me. Once I threatened to expose her is when she stepped aside. She’s a control freak and should’ve been removed from her position years ago. In fact I often thought I should’ve persued getting her removed fearing what she was capable of doing to other people in her care.

  16. A true advocate. Would be very disappointed in the current state of services to those he worked so diligently to free from unessesary restrictions on their freedom of personal choice.

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