Can the county social services board dismiss (fire) the county social services director?

Yes. The county social services director, however, is not a political appointee and does not serve at the pleasure or will of the Board. Like other DSS employees, the county social services director is subject to the State Personnel Act and may not be dismissed without just cause. In order to terminate the director’s employment, the board must have just cause to discharge the director and must follow the procedures established by the State Personnel Act (or a “substantially equivalent” county personnel system approved by the State) for dismissal of SPA employees.