Kent DHS Director's removal criticized GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- The pending reassignment of veteran Kent County Human Services Director Andy Zylstra is being widely criticized by elected leaders here. Zylstra is set to take a new DHS post in Lansing Monday. In a letter signed by all of Kent County's state senators and representatives they said "a move like this will be extremely harmful to the people of our districts who are already underserved by the Department because of the huge demand." The lawmakers say the only reason Zylstra is being removed is his challenges to DHS leaders in Lansing. Jerry Kooiman, a vice chair of the DHS Kent County board, told county commissioners this morning "what's going on is deplorable...he's being reassigned Monday to the bowels of DHS in Lansing." Kooiman, a former state representative, said it was "unprecedented" that the DHS central leadership remove a county leader.
11/3/2009 2:23:28 PM
