Greenville DSN interim director cuts staff

By Charles Sowell  

APRIL 26, 2012 12:01 p.m. (0)

Greenville Disabilities and Special Needs interim director Patrick Haddon plans to eliminate, or has eliminated, five positions at the troubled agency in an effort to save $203,433.20, documents provided to the Journal by a source close to the situation show.

Haddon did not return the Journal’s requests for an interview as of press time Wednesday.

The eliminated positions include director of day programs, the administrative assistant for day programs, medication coordinator, healthcare coordinator and the human resources administrative assistant.

Haddon’s efforts to bring spending under control at DSN are one of the reasons he was brought in following the February firing of then agency director Brent Parker over spending practices that left the agency with a shortfall of more than $1.5 million as of 2011.

This year, sources close to the situation have said, the agency is projecting a slight surplus by the end of the fiscal year.

The document provided to the Journal lists the author as Haddon and came under the Greenville County Disabilities and Special Needs Board name and logo.

In it, Haddon writes the agency is continuing to be vigilant in paying down its outstanding debt and shows about $125,000 in outstanding debt to vendors, with Bi-Lo listed as having the largest balance at $50,000.

In terms of the agency’s organizational structure, among the problems and concerns Haddon includes are DHEC citations, communication issues between departments and oversight from correct departments and managers.

He also cited management, oversight and training as well as staff abuses and potential neglect.

DHEC cited the agency for actions at its group homes in recent reports that date from March. According to one report, a staff member was arrested for abusing a “consumer,” or patient, at one of the agency’s programs. Another report concerned the death of Heather Dawn Worchester Lemon, 36, after having six abscessed teeth extracted in February.

Haddon has refused comment on the issues raised in the DHEC reports and so far has not responded to the Journal’s requests to tour some of the agency’s group homes.

DHEC cited many instances of structural deficiencies at the group homes reviewed in the reports made available to the Journal.

Regarding fiscal issues, Haddon writes the agency is looking at its van replacement program; HVAC issues at the office building and facilities; spending cuts to all non-critical items; and elimination of positions with restructuring and streamlining the agency.

He also lists plans to outsource employee shots and cut one staff position.

These moves, Haddon writes, will save over $200,000 a year and bring the monthly payroll under the targeted goal of $435,000 a month.

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