Ex-Evanston HR Chief Pockets Payout To Resign Amid Investigation

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston's former head of human resources was due to receive a payout of more than $50,000 after agreeing to a separation agreement last month with its former city manager, according to a copy of the deal obtained by Evanston Patch through a public records request.

Jennifer Lin, former human resources division manager, was placed on administrative leave on July 19 after former City Manager Erika Storlie said she had not shared a petition containing allegations of rampant sexual misconduct and harassment of female parks department employees working at the lakefront.

Lin was due to remain on leave pending the results of an outside investigation into the city's handling of the misconduct allegations, she was told that day in a memo from Deputy City Manager Kimberly Richardson.

"You must turn in any City equipment, keys, and your City ID badge at this time. During the administrative leave period you are not authorized to act on behalf of the City in any capacity," Richardson said. "You will not have access to City systems and resources; however, you will be required to participate in the aforementioned investigation."

Lin nonetheless continued to get paid. On Aug. 11, the City Council approved a separation agreement with Storlie, which called for her resignation to take effect on Oct. 8.

Then, on Sept. 10, Storlie and Lin agreed to a separation and release agreement.

Unlike Storlie's separation agreement, severance deals with other staff members are not required to come before the City Council for a vote.

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss said Storlie notified him of the deal but he did not sign off on it.

"Erika made me aware of her interest in pursuing a separation agreement with Jennifer Lin," Biss told Patch. "I strongly disagreed with her view, and I told her so, but it was not my decision to make."

The agreement calls for Lin to resign that same day — she did — and receive 22 weeks of paid severance leave, payout for all unused sick time and vacation time and taxpayer-funded health insurance through the end of the year.

According to the city's 2021 compensation report, Lin's base salary was $121,825, with total earnings and benefits totaling nearly $139,000, so that 22 weeks of her salary would amount to more than $51,500 — not counting the time spent not working while on paid administrative leave. Lin is due to receive her final payout of sick time on Oct. 29.

The deal also requires Lin to "participate and cooperate in any investigation, administrative proceeding, or litigation of matters surrounding [her] employment with [Evanston]."

As part of the deal, Lin agreed not to sue the city, and both sides agree not to make any "defamatory, derogatory, or disparaging remarks, comments, inferences, implications, or statements concerning the City of its employees."

Lin is one of five city staffers who met in July 2020 with the group of women who brought forward the petition containing allegations of abuse and harassment by lakefront supervisors.

Storlie told aldermen that none of them never shared the petition with her or the law department, which at the time was headed by current Interim City Manager Kelley Gandurski of the petition.

At least three of those employees have since resigned, with one of them taking a position as head of Lincolnwood's parks department. Evanston Parks and Recreation Director Lawrence Hemingway was appointed to a position in Michigan but withdrew during the pre-employment background check process.

After resigning from her job with the city, Lin, a former Cook County prosecutor, worked as interim chief of staff for State Rep. Denyse Wang Stoneback, according to an online resume. Stoneback's husband works as a department director for the city of Evanston. As of this week, Lin was no longer with the state representative's office.

Lin declined a request for an interview about her resignation.

"I have nothing to add," Lin told Patch, "regarding the circumstances of my departure from the City of Evanston."