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.