§ 122C-121. Area director.
§ 122C‑121. Areadirector.
(a) The area directoris an employee of the area board, shall serve at the pleasure of the board, andshall be appointed in accordance with G.S. 122C‑117(7). As used in thissubsection, "employee" means an individual and does not include acorporation, a partnership, a limited liability corporation, or any otherbusiness association.
(a1) The area board shallestablish the area director's salary under Article 3 of Chapter 126 of theGeneral Statutes. An area board may request an adjustment to the salary rangesunder G.S. 126‑9(b). The request shall include specific informationsupporting the need for the adjustment, including comparative salary andpatient caseload data for other LMEs, and shall also include the specificamount the area board proposes to pay the director. The area board shall notrequest a salary adjustment that is more than ten percent (10%) above thenormal allowable salary range as determined by the State Personnel Commission.
(a2) The area board shallnot provide the director with any benefits that are not also provided by thearea board to all permanent employees of the area program. The director shallbe reimbursed only for allowable employment‑related expenses at the samerate and in the same manner as other employees of the area program.
(b) The area boardshall evaluate annually the area director for performance based on criteriaestablished by the Secretary and the area board. In conducting the evaluation,the area board shall consider comments from the board of county commissioners.
(c) The area directoris the administrative head of the area program. In addition to the duties underG.S. 122C‑111, the area director shall:
(1) Appoint, supervise,and terminate area program staff.
(2) Administer areaauthority services.
(3) Develop the budgetof the area authority for review by the area board.
(4) Provide informationand advice to the board of county commissioners through the county manager.
(5) Act as liaisonbetween the area authority and the Department.
(d) Except whenspecifically waived by the Secretary, the area director shall meet all thefollowing minimum qualifications:
(1) Masters degree.
(2) Related experience.
(3) Managementexperience.
(4) Any otherqualifications required under G.S. 122C‑120.1. (1971, c. 470, s. 1; 1973, c.476, s. 133; 1977, c. 568, s. 1; c. 679, s. 7; 1979, c. 358, s. 14; 1981, c.51, s. 3; 1985, c. 589, s. 2; 2001‑437, s. 1.12; 2006‑142, s. 4(k);2007‑323, s. 6.20(a).)