Commissioners terminate employment of former Children Services Director
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The Highland County Board of Commissioners have voted unanimously to terminate the employment of former Children Services Director Wendy Jacobs, effective immediately.
At 8:05 a.m. Wednesday, the Highland County Board of Commissioners met with Debbie Robbins, Director of Highland County Job and Family Services and Children Services, to discuss personnel matters. Board members Tom Horst and Shane Wilkin, voted to go into executive session to discuss personnel matters with Robbins.
Commissioner Jeremy Shaffer was not in attendance when the board voted to go into executive session.
Early this week, Robbins told The Highland County Press that Jacobs, former director of Children Services, who is now a supervisor in the department, was placed on administrative leave on Aug. 3.
Shaffer joined the commissioners in executive session at approximately 8:17 a.m.
Horst made a recommendation to "follow the recommendation of the director of Job and Family Services" to terminate Jacobs' employment effective immediately. The motion was seconded by Shaffer, and it passed 3-0.
It has not been stated what led to the termination.
Robbins told The Highland County Press following the meeting that, "The choice was made based on what was going to be best for the agency as a whole."
In July, Highland County Children Services and Highland County Job and Family Services began a merger. Robbins, who was director of Job and Family Services, became director of both agencies. Jacobs, who was director of Children Services, began serving in a supervisor role.