Board lets go of Metro Social Services director

A year after major dust-up, board moves 'forward with the mayor's charge'

Email | Print By Nate Rau

Gerri Robinson Matthew Williams/File

One year after Metro Social Services Director Gerri Robinson came under fire and nearly lost her job, the department’s board of commissioners voted Saturday not to extend her contract at its annual retreat.

“I accept the board’s decision and wish the department all the best,” Robinson said in a statement. “Contrary to some people’s belief, I support a strong planning and coordination function for Metro Social Services.

“At the same time, I hope the Board will not neglect its duty to be the agency of last resort for the most vulnerable of Davidson County residents. In my view, both these roles can be combined in a fruitful and effective manner that benefits Nashville in the long term.”

After a period of turmoil, the board considered not renewing Robinson’s contract last February, but ultimately offered her a one-year extension. Four new members had recently been appointed to the board prior to its vote a year ago and the feeling was they did not have enough information on whether to extend or terminate Robinson’s contract.

In 2007, three board members quit after Robinson was given an 8 percent pay raise. Then came the budget cycle, during which time Robinson disagreed with the board over proposed budget cuts for Social Services. Robinson advocated a cut in the department’s planning and coordinating functions, while the board eliminated the summer camp voucher program for underprivileged youths and considered privatizing nutrition and meal delivery services.

The board voted 4-3 to not renew Robinson’s contract. In her statement, Robinson, whose last day will be Feb. 19, said she’d already trained staff on making the transition to the next director.

Board member Dr. Frank Boehm said the decision to not extend Robinson’s contract was because the department is moving in a new direction. Mayor Karl Dean gave a directive to the board at the start of the retreat to become a city-wide leader in planning and coordinating social services in Nashville.

The board’s annual retreat focused on implementing a new plan for Social Services’ planning and coordinating functions, which Robinson had been resistant to.

“Rather than pointing fingers, our attitude is we want to thank Mrs. Robinson for the hard work she has performed over the last four and a half years,” Boehm said. “We appreciate her for wanting to make things better for the underprivileged people of Nashville. We moved forward with the mayor’s charge.”

When the board decided to give Robinson a one-year extension, instead of the three-year extension she had been seeking, it promised a performance review when considering whether to renew her contract this year. Boehm said the results of that review were “adequate” but added it was still time to move in a new direction.

The board will meet soon to consider searching for a replacement and whether to use an interim director in the meantime.

“We’re going to be looking for leadership to take us into the 21st century in terms of planning and coordinating all the services offered by the nonprofit, faith-based and government sectors,” Boehm said.