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Scotland County commissioners vote to consolidate Health Department and Department of Social Services
Summary
After a public hearing with staff and board members expressing concern, the Scotland County Board of Commissioners voted to consolidate the county Health Department and Department of Social Services; commissioners said implementation details and employee protections will be worked out before an effective date.
The Scotland County Board of Commissioners voted June 2 to consolidate the county Health Department and the Department of Social Services into a single human services agency, following a public hearing in which employees and advisory-board members raised questions about jobs, benefits and service continuity.
Supporters on the commission said consolidation would align governance and personnel policies across county departments and create opportunities to integrate services for residents who use both agencies. Commissioner discussion emphasized time to plan and a later implementation date to allow for a managed transition.
At the public hearing, Andy Kurtzman, vice chair of the Scotland County Department of Social Services board, read a list of employee concerns asking for specifics about staff impacts, whether positions would be affected, how state and federal funding would be protected, and how continuity of services would be assured. "Will positions be affected by the consolidation?" Kurtzman asked, summarizing questions he said he had received from DSS staff.
Ian Yancey, chair of the health department board, told commissioners the health board had heard similar questions and urged the commission to "turn over the rocks" and review potential impacts thoroughly before finalizing details.
Commissioners discussed two governance models: (1) the County Board of Commissioners becoming the governing board with existing boards retained as advisory bodies, or (2) consolidation with separate governing boards retained. Commissioners who supported consolidation said the board could decide the model and effective date in follow-up meetings; one commissioner asked for an implementation target in the fall to allow time to plan.
The board made a motion to consolidate the two departments. Commissioners then clarified the next steps would include more detailed employee communications and a plan for governance. The motion passed; the board agreed to develop implementation details, employee protections, and a timeline before an effective date was set.
Commissioners and county staff pledged to circulate answers to the questions raised at the hearing and to keep employees informed as plans are developed.
The board did not adopt a final governance model at the June 2 meeting; commissioners said they will return to that question in a subsequent meeting and set an implementation date after staff-level planning.
