The Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families was called in for a rare closed-door meeting at the State House today.
DCF, which has been under fire after Jeremiah Oliver, a 5-year-old Fitchburg boy, went missing while his family was under DCF supervision, usually only holds to discuss an employee’s reputation, health or dismissal.
Coming out of the meeting, Commissioner Olga Roche said lawmakers did not ask her to resign, but she would not provide any other details.
“We were discussing some issues that were more confidential so consequently we had this follow up meeting," she said. "But I stress again, it was a very productive meeting.”
Several weeks ago in a public hearing, lawmakers came down hard on Roche and her department for missing warning signs before Jeremiah Oliver disappeared.
Child advocate Gail Garringer was at the closed-door meeting. She said she didn’t get any indication that lawmakers would call for Roche to step down.
"In no sense did I get the feeling this was a vote of confidence or non-confidence," she said. "I think she was very respectfully treated and I think she did a very good job of responding to questions."
In public remarks, Governor Deval Patrick has said he has confidence in Commissioner Roche.
