The chairman had been working on making improvements in that department, said county spokesperson Holly Lafontaine. "He felt this was a necessary step to reach his goals," she said.

"He talked to the staff afterwards and said he's been watching the department over the last eight months and to reach the level of service that he wants, that this was necessary."

Mack was hired in February 2007 as director of the department and had 35 positions under her. Her current salary was $93,600 and she will not be receiving a severance package, said Lafontaine.

The director's position will not be posted immediately. Miguel Valentin, deputy director of the department, will serve as interim director. The board of commissioners was in the process of moving the Capital and Community Improvements division, which is currently directly under the board, to the GS&E department.

"(The chairman) doesn't want to post the director's position without having a clear direction of where the department is going," Lafontaine said.

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