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Rutherford DSS director signed DHHS annual agreement; board counsel recommends holding copy pending commissioners' review
Summary
Director Hunt told the Rutherford County DSS board she signed the DHHS annual written agreement to meet a July 1 deadline but county commissioners expressed concern about signature authority; board counsel recommended holding the signed copy because the statute frames the agreement between the county and DHHS.
Director Hunt told the Rutherford County Department of Social Services board she signed the annual written agreement with the state Department of Health and Human Services on June 19 to meet a July 1 deadline but said county commissioners were uneasy about signature authority and asked for more research.
"I did sign on June 19 to try to get there by the July 1 deadline," Director Hunt said, and she asked the board what to do with the signed copy while commissioners consider whether the county manager should sign. Hunt cited General Statute 108A-74 and said she had reached out to the regional director for guidance.
Board counsel advised the board not to forward the signed copy to DHHS at this time. "At this juncture, I see no particular reason not to hold on to it," counsel said, arguing the document as drafted is between DHHS and the county rather than DSS and DHHS. Counsel noted that some counties have appended protests to the agreement in the past but that no county or DSS had pursued litigation to overturn the practice.
Counsel emphasized the board had met its statutory duties and that the signature question was appropriately between the commissioners and DHHS. Director Hunt said she would await recommendations from the county attorney and the commissioners and asked for assistance from regional directors and staff if needed.
There was no final resolution recorded in the meeting; board counsel and the director left the matter for the county commissioners to decide. The board did not transmit the signed copy during the session.
