What are some of the laws that define the board’ s authority with respect to the county social services director?

State law [G.S. 108A-9(1) and 108A-12(a)] vests in the county social services board the authority to “select the county director of social services according to the merit system rules of the State Personnel Commission.” By implication, these statutes give the board the authority and responsibility to evaluate the director’s performance and to dismiss (or discipline) the director for unsatisfactory job performance or personal misconduct in accordance with the State Personnel Act and rules adopted by the State Personnel Commission.
State law also gives the board the authority to determine the director’s salary (with the approval of the board of county commissioners and in accordance with the State Personnel Commission’s personnel classification plan) [G.S. 108A-13]; to assist the director in planning the social services department’s budget [G.S. 108A-9(3); and to consult with the director of social services about problems relating to his or her office [G.S. 108A-9(3)].
State law also provides that the county social services director is the board’s “executive officer” and “secretary” [G.S. 108A-14(a)(1)]