Southeastern Center’s area director retiring

The man in the middle of Southeastern Center’s mental health budget crisis says he is stepping down.

After 30 years of service working in mental health, Doctor Art Costantini plans to retire.

Fourteen of those years were at Southeastern Center for Mental Health.

Costantini served as area director.

He says despite the budget crisis most recently, he had planned to retire since last fall, but that was put on hold.

A committee is conducting a nation wide search to find his replacement.

Dr Costantini says the committee plans to look for candidates who have a strong background in finance and budgeting.

Recently we told you about Senator Julia Boseman’s request to have Southeastern’s finances audited.

Costantini says he’s not worried about what the audit will show.

“I welcome the audit, because I know that we didn’t do anything wrong or inappropriate,” said Constantini.

Dr. Costantini says he’s confident the audit will show that the money allotted for mental health was spent on necessary services.

The search for Costantini’s area director’s position could take three to six months.

He plans to stay on until his replacement is hired.