Former Mitchell County Department of Social Services Director Sarah Ross has filed a contested case in the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings in regards to her dismissal last August. Mitchell commissioners, who also make up the Social Services board, were informed of the case in early November. County Manager Tim Greene hired the county an attorney, Sean Perrin of Womble Bond Dickinson of Charlotte, who specializes in employment law. A hearing is scheduled for the first week of February in Waynesville. The case stems from Ross being dismissed after an investigation into alleged misconduct. She was placed on investigative leave on August 3rd after questions were raised about a possible IT contract and a possible extra leave day given to DSS employees. Details have not been made public but were presented to the board on August 18 after which the board began the process of removing her from her position. Ross started as Director of Mitchell County DSS on January 1, 2019.
