New Hanover County Department of Social Services Director LaVaughn Nesmith will retire from his post next month.
Nesmith, who was placed on administrative leave last month, will retire from the county on April 1, according to a notice from New Hanover County Public Information Officer Charles Smith.
Related story: New Hanover DSS director placed on leave
Nesmith’s administrative leave pay will end March 24, Smith said. A special DSS meeting scheduled for Tuesday has been canceled.
The decision to place Nesmith on leave came following a February closed session meeting of the DSS Board of Directors after a budget retreat, board chairman Jonathan Barfield said in a follow-up interview.
Barfield said the board decided unanimously to place Nesmith on 30 days of paid leave. He declined to comment further, citing confidential personnel matters. The board also named Michelle Winstead, assistant director of economic services, as interim DSS director.
Nesmith was hired as DSS Director in March 2003. He earned a salary of $126,319.
