County manager: Investigation of director raises no concerns about animal shelter

Pitt County Manager Janis Gallagher said she has no concerns about the operation of the Pitt County Animal Shelter or its finances following the resignation of its executive director.

Chad Singleton, who oversaw the shelter and Pitt County Animal Services since Aug. 9, 2021, resigned from the county effective Friday. His resignation came one week after he was placed on investigative status with pay on July 3, Gallagher said.

“Outside of any personnel action, I have no concern about the operation of Pitt County Animal Shelter. I have no concern about any county funds or finances that would warrant any further investigation on my part,” Gallagher said. The investigative process was not complete when Singleton resigned.

Gallagher said state personnel laws prevent her from revealing the reason Singleton was placed on investigative status with pay. The county’s personnel ordinance creates an ability to remove somebody from their workstation for a period of time if there is a concern that needs to be investigated, she said.

“Generically speaking, there are multiple reasons somebody could be placed on investigation status with pay,” Gallagher said. “Those reasons could relate to actions involving their work or it could be related to actions outside their work that don’t directly impact or relate to their county work.”

Singleton, who previously worked at the Pitt County Detention Center from 1997 until joining animal services, could not be reached for comment.

Gallagher said human resources is the arm of the county to look into whatever issue was raised and has the ability to place somebody on that status with or without pay.

Gallagher said it’s the practice of Pitt County government for human resources to lead the investigation from the employment perspective.

“To the extent there is any other investigation outside my wheelhouse, that’s not mine to comment on,” Gallagher said.

Pitt County’s public information office said Thursday that the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office is involved in the investigation.

Gallagher said she met with animal services on Thursday to discuss Singleton’s departure.

The shelter has two supervisors, one over the animal control officers and the other over shelter operations. They will report to Gallagher until a new director is appointed.

“I do not anticipate any interruption in services to the public or volunteers or anything at all in the normal operations of the shelter,” she said.

Singleton appeared before the Pitt County Board of Commissioners at its June 17 meeting to request the county accept the Spay Today facility and its equipment to bring spay and neuter services in-house.

The request was made after Spay Today announced it was closing its facilities to the public. The county used the clinic to spay and neuter dogs and cats adopted from the shelter.

The commissioners unanimously approved the request.