Special to the Chronicle

The firing of a state agency head was secretly planned in advance.

This was revealed in documents WCSC-TV in Charleston obtained through the Freedom of Information Act

The documents shared online with the Lexington County Chronicle show how 4 SC Department of Disabilities and Special Needs commissioners planned to fire then-Director Mary Poole.

This is not the 1st time DDSN and some of the care facilities it finances have run into controversy.

The Chronicle was unsuccessfully sued 3 times by Babcock Center officials after DDSN auditors found evidence of abuse, neglect and even deaths of vulnerable adults in its care.

Courageous Babcock Center employees and board members gave the Chronicle copies of the audit.

Over the next 4 years, they supplied more evidence of abuse and neglect.

The newspaper published this information despite threats of lawsuits and stonewalling its requests for Babcocks’ side of the charges.

In the most recent episode, a memo for a closed-door, executive session said in part:

“The executive director has lashed out and taken revenge on so many individuals & agencies across this state that it’s almost impossible to keep count. This is not the reputation we want and it is certainly not professional or acceptable.”

DDSN finances and oversee services for South Carolinians with severe, lifelong disabilities provided by the Babcock Center and other caregivers in Lexington County.

Caregiver employees have expressed concerns about covid-19. staff shortages, long hours and low pay.

In a February meeting only accessible to the public through an audio stream, Poole was fired.

She seemed to have no idea she was to be fired in the meeting.

In that meeting, commissioners voted 5-1 to fire Poole.

The lone voter in opposition was Commission Chairman Gary Lemel.

The commissioners publicly accused Poole of mishandling an executive-level sexual harassment matter and a sexual discrimination investigation.

DDSN has refused to provide details about the allegations.