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Ulster County, NY - The director of Ulster County’s health department was put on administrative leave Thursday because county officials said he allowed the department to fall behind on inspections, did not update computer filing technology and did not hire workers to fill vacant staff positions.

The longtime director, Dean Palen, was escorted out of the county office building with his wife, who is his secretary in the health department. County officials say Palen’s wife will be relocated to another department. Palen is due to retire at the end of the month.

The new county charter requires that the health director be a medical doctor. Palen did not qualify for the position because he is an engineer.

Legislative Chairman Dave Donaldson said Palen was asked to leave by County Executive Mike Hein because the department was not correcting some of its deficiencies.

“I support the county executive in this decision,” Donaldson said. “There wasn’t any movement on Dean’s part to rearrange what needed to be arranged in the health department.”

The state has criticized Palen and his health department for years, admonishing them in audits for not vigorously inspecting the public water supply, tobacco enforcement and restaurants.

The latest criticism came in an April 2009 audit, in which the state accused Palen’s health department of not inspecting or issuing permits to many public eateries.

“There were no records of enforcement action against operators found to be in violation of operating without a permit,” the state audit said.

Palen submitted a corrective action plan to the state, but state health department officials sent it back with a note that said it was inadequate.

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