The former Department of Disabilities and Special Needs head is not the 1st to run into trouble.

The agency has been plagued for more than 20 years with handling charges of neglect, abuse, sexual harrassment, even rape and death of mentally challenged residents.

DDSN reports of abuse at homes run by the Babcock Center and others have been suppressed and the Chronicle was sued unsuccessfuly for revealing them.

In the latest incident, former Executive Director Mary Poole mishandled a sexual harassment incident, DDSN commissioners say.

Poole had been hired in 2018 to replace a fired predecessor who had been charged with mishandling other abuse and neglect complaints.

Commission members Monday drafted a letter to Poole, who asked why she was fired.

“The majority of the commission lost confidence in your judgment to handle important matters,” said the letter, which was read aloud during the agency’s board meeting, The State newspaper reported.

“Specifically the majority of the commission was concerned about the manner in which you handled an executive level employment matter relating to sexual harassment.”

After an executive session lasting almost 2 hours, the commission voted 5-0 in open session to adopt the letter but did not disclose specifics of the sexual harassment.

DDSN Chairman Gary Lemel abstained from approving the letter.

He was the lone no vote on firing Poole, saying DDSN made more progress under her leadership than in decades.

The commission has named DDSN attorney Constance Holloway as interim director.

Poole was hired to lead DDSN at $171,404 a year. She replaced Beverly Buscemi after DDSN was criticized over allegations of abuse, neglect and other critical problems.