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DSS Director’s Firing Sticks

County Manager Harry Jones has upheld the firing of Mary Wilson, who oversaw Mecklenburg County’s Department of Social Services.  That comes after an employee panel heard Wilson’s appeal of her termination.  

Jones did not mince words in hisletter notifying Wilson of the decision.  He said her decisions and management style created “an atmosphere in DSS of distrust, fear, suspicion, intimidation, and uncertainty.” Furthermore, he said under her leadership the department’s effectiveness declined and she did not follow the direction of her direct boss to improve the situation and even lied to her. 

Wilson was fired last month after four years with the department.  She appealed the decision calling the firing “unfair and unjust.”  That meant an employee panel consisting of two county department directors and a rank and file county employee heard both sides.  Jones said the panel unanimously found Wilson failed to tell the truth, failed to show respect and courtesy for others and failed to be impartial in the delivery of services and performance of her duties. 

Lisa Worf traded the Midwest for Charlotte in 2006 to take a job at WFAE. She worked with public TV in Detroit and taught English in Austria before making her way to radio. Lisa graduated from University of Chicago with a bachelor’s degree in English.