By correspondent Virginia Bridges

The Durham County social services board may have broken the law when it appointed a sitting member to become the interim Department of Social Services director, according to a report released today.

But the violation appears to have been unintentional, based on documents and interviews, according to Jimmie Hicks Jr., the New Bern attorney the Durham County commissioners hired to investigate the appointment in the wake of former director Gerri Robinson’s firiing in July.

The commissioner asked Hicks to investigate three things:
- The county commissioners' appointment of Gail Perry to the Department of Social Services board in June.
- Whether DSS board members Stan Holt, Joe Bowser and Perry held an illegal meeting before the July vote to fire Robinson.
- Whether it was a conflict of interest for Perry to vote to fire Robinson and then be appointed to her position on an interim basis.

Hicks’ report found no legal problems with the first two issues.

From correspondent Virginia Bridges

The Durham County Commissioners agreed today to ask an attorney, possibly who represents another county, to investigate the firing of the former social services director.

At their meeting today, the commissioners voted to have an attorney investigate the first three questions on a list of 24 questions sent to the attorney general’s office, which declined to investigate. They did not pick an attorney, but Durham County Attorney Lowell Siler said the attorney representing Craven, Pamlico and Jones counties has expressed interest.

Those first three questions center on the county commissioners’ appointment of Gail Perry to the Department of Social Services board in June; whether DSS board members Stan Holt, Joe Bowser and Perry held an illegal meeting before the July vote to fire director Gerri Robinson, and whether it was a conflict of interest for Perry to vote to fire Robinson and then be appointed to her position on an interim basis. Bowser is a county commissioner and the liaison to the DSS board.

The commissioners also voted to ask the county’s internal auditor to review the entire 24 points in the original letter.

Commissioner Chairman Michael Page stressed that the investigation isn't centered on Robinson or Perry. “This is about the way we do business in Durham County, and how this was handled,” he said.

Breaking news

County leaders announced today that Gail Perry has been named interim director of the Durham County Department of Social Services effective August 8. 

Perry replaces Gerri Robinson (left). who had been DSS director for just under two years.

“The Board of DSS understands that this will be a time of uncertainty for the organization and we have every confidence that Ms. Perry will be able to help support the organization, its staff and the people it serves through this uncertain time,” Social Services Advisory Board Chairman Stan Holt said in an announcement Thursday.

Perry, a Durham native, has 37 years as a social service professional and spent most of that time with Durham County before retiring in 2002, according to a county news release. She began her career as a social worker, and progressed to supervisor and program manager in the areas of Adult Services and Child Protective Services.

If you would like to speak with a reporter about this developing story, please contact Virginia Bridges at 919-564-9330 or virginiabridges@gmail.com