The board of the Smoky Mountain Center for Mental Health spent two and a half hours behind closed doors questioning the actions of agency director Tom McDevitt at a meeting last Thursday (Aug. 28).

Once again, the board communicated via videoconferencing between two meeting locations. Members of the seven western counties convened at Smoky Mountain Center offices in Sylva while board members from eight other counties met in Wilkesboro. McDevitt and Board Chairman Bill Noland of Haywood County joined the Wilkesboro group.

Noland, who chaired the meeting, wasted no time in addressing allegations that McDevitt has come under fire for in recent weeks.

A Smoky Mountain News article that investigated some of McDevitt’s actions raised questions about the director’s role as head of the Evergreen Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the Smoky Mountain Center, and whether McDevitt’s wife — a real estate broker — had profited from sales of Foundation properties. It also found that McDevitt received contract benefits not offered to other Smoky Mountain Center employees.

Noland defended McDevitt, calling him professional, honest and a positive leader who is recognized as one of the top mental health agency directors in the state.

“Tom has no hidden agenda and gave honest answers to all questions asked at the board meeting,” Noland said. Board members have questioned McDevitt’s actions at the last two board meetings.

Noland also talked about the checks and balances in place at the Smoky Mountain Center that help keep tabs on the agency. The Smoky Mountain News investigation highlighted the difficulty in governing state mental health agencies because it’s not always clear what rules the agencies have to follow. Mental health agencies are funded with state and federal monies, but fall under the control of local government. They don’t have to abide by state ethics guidelines that apply to state personnel.

The board of directors is one check and balance, said Noland. So is the agency’s yearly audit. Reports McDevitt and his staff give to county commissions of the 15 Smoky Mountain Center counties provide an additional check, said Noland.

After highlighting ways the agency is monitored, Noland asked the board if they had questions or comments for McDevitt.

A motion was made by Caldwell County Commissioner Don Barrier to go into closed session.

“Recently, there have been questions raised in the public eye regarding the area director, Mr. Tom McDevitt,” Barrier read from a prepared statement. “This board needs to demonstrate strong leadership and governance regarding these questions.”

In his address to the board, Barrier recounted Smoky Mountain Center’s mission — to meet the needs of citizens with mental health, developmental disabilities and substance abuse services.

“To accomplish this charge, we must maintain the strong organization we have in SMC,” Barrier said.

The board voted unanimously to go into closed session to discuss a personnel matter under general statutes. There was apparently no shortage of questions for McDevitt, as the session lasted two-and-a-half hours.

No announcement was made after the long discussion, and the matter of McDevitt’s actions did not come up again for the remainder of the meeting.

Several board members had indicated to The Smoky Mountain News that videoconferencing between two separate locations has inhibited their understanding of issues raised by the board. It was decided that the next board meeting will take place in a central location and that members will meet face to face.

The next board meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on Sept. 16 at the Doubletree Hotel in Asheville.

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