Some county commissioners want the board to hold a closed-door meeting as soon as next week to shed more light on an ongoing investigation into the Department of Social Services, including a charity that bought gifts for needy children.
Commissioner Bill James sent the request in an email overnight to county commissioners and top county staff, including County Manager Harry Jones and DSS Director Mary Wilson. He said it was sent on behalf of the board's three Republicans, which also include Karen Bentley and Neil Cooksey.
Here is his proposed agenda:
___________________________________________________________
Mecklenburg Board of Commissioners
Action Item – (DRAFT at 12-6-2009)
December 15, 2009
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Schedule a closed session meeting of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners operating as the ‘Board of Social Services’ to discuss various matters related to DSS for Noon on December 17, 2009.
ACTION: A motion to schedule a meeting of the County Commission operating as the ‘Board of Social Services’ within the meaning of NCGS 90B-6, NCGS 153A-77 and other statutes for Noon on December 17, 2009 and to also:
A. Instruct the Board of Social Services’ employee, Director Mary Wilson, who is a direct hire of the Board of County Commissioners, to appear at this meeting and to provide answers to certain questions and to provide documents as requested by the members of the Board of Social Services in advance of that meeting.
B. Instruct the Director of Social Services to make her supervisors and employees (especially those in DSS Finance) available to the Board of Social Services for questioning in private without management present.
C. Offer an invitation to former acting DSS head Janice Allen Jackson to appear at this closed session and to offer private commentary about the DSS.
D. Offer an invitation to former DSS ‘Giving Tree’ employees to appear at this closed session and to offer private commentary about DSS’ Giving Tree program.
E. Instruct the County Manager to make available to the Commissioners copies of any and all internal memo’s produced by internal Audit and senior management involving DSS matters from the last 12 months for the Board to review (including all of those classified as ‘personnel matters’.
F. Instruct the County Manager to provide to the Commission a detailed list of gifts purchased for others with Giving Tree funds and his opinion as to whether these purchases actually benefited (were received by) the individuals to whom they were intended.
G. Receive a presentation from Dena Dioro about our current expense ‘advance’ policy and whether it complies with the time requirements of IRS circular/publication 15.
H. Provide a list to the Commission of all remaining items left in inventory in the County’s possession related to the Giving Tree program before these items were allowed to be disbursed (and their purchase price).
Commission Contact: Commissioners Karen Bentley, Neil Cooksey and Bill James
Presentation: Yes __X__ No _____
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION: Recent turmoil and dissention within DSS
POLICY IMPACT: Unknown until presentation
FISCAL IMPACT: None
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5:17 p.m. UPDATE:
Here is the latest version for the proposed meeting. It now includes portions that would be open to the public, as well as closed-door dicussions.
Mecklenburg Board of Commissioners
Action Item
December 15, 2009
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Subject: Meet to exercise its powers as a Consolidated Human Services Board to investigate matters involving the Department of Social Services
ACTION: At the conclusion of the rest of the agenda for this meeting, recess the meeting until noon on December 17, 2009 to investigate matters involving personnel of the Department of Social Services and, in connection therewith:
A. Instruct County Manager (as the human services director of the County’s Consolidated Human Services Agency, which agency includes the Department of Social Services) to instruct the Social Services Director, Mary Wilson, to appear at this meeting in closed session to provide answers to certain questions and to provide documents as requested by the members of the Board of County Commissioners in advance of that meeting.
B. Instruct the County Manager to instruct the Director of Social Services to make her supervisors and employees (especially those in DSS Finance) available to the Board of County Commissioners for questioning in closed session without management present.
C. Instruct the Chairman of the Board to invite former acting DSS head Janice Allen Jackson to appear in closed session and to offer private commentary about DSS personnel matters.
D. Offer an invitation to current and former DSS ‘Giving Tree’ and DSS finance employees to appear in closed session and to offer private commentary about DSS’ Giving Tree program personnel matters. Interested individuals should contact the Clerk to sign up to speak.
E. Instruct the County Manager to make available to the Commissioners copies of any and all internal memo’s produced by internal Audit and senior management involving DSS Giving Tree matters from the last 12 months, with appropriate actions to insure statutory confidentiality as to personnel matters, for the Board to review.
F. Instruct the County Manager to provide to the Board in open session a detailed list of gifts purchased for others with Giving Tree funds for the period February 5, 2008 through December 23, 2008 and his opinion as to whether these purchases actually benefited (were received by) the individuals to whom they were intended.
G. Receive a presentation from Dena Diorio in open session about our current expense ‘advance’ policy and whether it complies with the time requirements of IRS circular/publication 15.
H. Provide a list to the Board in open session of all remaining items left in inventory in the County’s possession related to the Giving Tree program (and their purchase prices).
Commission Contact: Commissioners Karen Bentley, Neil Cooksey and Bill James
Presentation: Yes __X__ No _____
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION: Recent turmoil and dissention within DSS
POLICY IMPACT: Unknown until presentation
FISCAL IMPACT: None
- Doug Miller
Monday, December 7, 2009
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4 comments:
A Federal Grand Jury is now part of the process. Whatever has been going on at DSS is bigger than Harry Jones has let on.
Cleary it is time for Harry to step down.
Harry Jones is a minority with credentials. He was hired because of that. And, because of that he is not required tio operate under rules of law which apply to the majority. He is allowed, and should be allowed, to make rules as he sees fit to protect the interests of himself and his own specific agenda. He has not profited from this in any way. He has merely hired close friends and members of his church to positions of power and influence within the County. While these hires have been questionable based on the experience of the parties in question, who among us has not benefited from "on the job training"? Jones and his six figure income cronies have, deep-down, our best interests at heart.
This GJ invest occurs only after the new mayor is elected and taken office with his ties to DSS. Impeachment is a viable option if needed and then Nick Macky can be appointed by illustrious Dems?
If the BOCC really wants to get an earful of what's happening, they need to open up the closed door meetings to ALL former and current DSS employees. It'll take longer, but it would sure shine a light on a lot more than just the diversionary tactic of the Giving Tree "investigation".
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