COLOMBIA, SC (AP) – The South Carolina agency director who serves people with disabilities was fired without explanation.
After a private and unchallenged meeting on Thursday, the Department of Disabilities and Special Needs council voted 5-1 to immediately fire Director Mary Poole, the Charleston Post and Courier reported.
She had been with the agency for less than three years and earned $ 171,400.
Commissioner David Thomas of Greenville made the motion to dismiss Poole. A former state senator, Thomas told the newspaper he could not say why she was fired because it was a matter of personnel.
Poole’s dismissal is for the agency’s good and will hopefully lead the agency to serve more and better people, said Thomas.
“I’m looking forward to bringing some leadership that can continue to move us forward,” said Thomas. “When you have to act, it hurts and nobody is happy. It is better to do this, end it and move on. “
Poole said he has worked honestly and diligently for more than 30 years with people with disabilities and has not had an opportunity to discuss any concerns with his work with the board.
“I leave this particular position with my honesty and integrity intact and my head held high,” Poole said in a statement. “I am proud of what my team has been able to accomplish during my 29 months as head of the agency. We found and corrected many old and significant problems in the branch and supplier network. My only regret is that these efforts were interrupted with so much work to be done. “
When Poole was hired in mid-2018, the Disabilities and Special Needs Department was suffering for years from allegations of abuse with its providers, financial problems and long waiting lists for help.