The Albemarle Mental Health Center overpaid its top employees, according to a state audit.
The auditor's office criticized the mental health office in northeast North Carolina for paying director Charles Franklin Jr. $282,663 last year. His assistant, who does not have a college degree, made about $143,000 — more than Gov. Mike Easley.
The average pay for directors of regional mental health agencies was about $115,000 last year, the audit said.
The local mental health board that set Franklin's salary refused to talk with a reporter, instead sending a statement through a Raleigh public relations firm, French/West/Vaughan.
In addition, the audit said board members wasted money on unnecessary conferences, including $12,476 at the Biltmore Estate in 2005. (N&O)
Bonus for Dome readers: Guess who Albemarle's lobbyist was...
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