Ex-Beaufort County administrator Greenway demands public hearing. SC law is on his side
It may get confrontational. It will definitely be public, and the showdown will happen two weeks from Monday in the same room where Eric Greenway was fired.
Former Beaufort County administrator Eric Greenway wants the public to hear his side of his controversial firing at the hands of the County Council and, according to state law, he has that right as long as he and his lawyer follow the timeline set up in the South Carolina Code of Laws.
Greenway had five days after his notice of removal to file a written request for the hearing. He submitted his request Aug. 3, and the hearing was scheduled for 4 p.m. Aug. 28. The law states that the hearing must be held no earlier than 20 days and no later than 30 days after the request is filed.
Greenway told The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette last week that he believes he was wrongfully terminated.
Greenway’s July calendar was a roller-coaster starting with Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner announcing mysterious misconduct allegations against the then-county administrator. The story got more complicated with law enforcement assigning fact-finding to a special joint team of investigators.
The County Council first declined to take any action while Greenway was under investigation, leaving him in a position to continue to perform his duties that included financial oversight. Then the council suspended him with pay and, days after a former employee leveled harassment allegations and raised issues on procurement irregularities, the council reversed course and terminated his contract for cause.
The public has been kept in the dark throughout the process, leaving many questioning the council’s competence and commitment to open government.
District 11 Councilperson Tom Reitz, who represents portions of Hilton Head Island on the County Council, said that the hearing being public will be a benefit to transparency.
“It’s going to allow the people to take first-hand knowledge of what’s going on with County Council and the government,” he told The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette Thursday morning.
Council members still continue to say they know very little about what happened under Greenway’s leadership and what’s currently happening after his termination last month. Interim county administrator John Robinson has not been open to questions besides confirming that there is an investigation.
“We’re going to learn this together,” Reitz added.
District 7 Councilperson Logan Cunningham, who represents portions of Bluffton, concurred.
“I think transparency is always good,” he said. “I would love to have gotten a lot of information out to the public sooner.”
District 2 Councilperson David Bartholomew, who represents portions of Lady’s Island and the Marine Corps Air Station, said he understands the public’s frustration at being kept in the dark.
“It seemed contrary to what’s supposed to happen,” he said. “I understand the implications of it, why we’re doing it, but the public needs to be involved in this conversation.”
Bartholomew also thanked the county employees who have brought information to council members.
“Without dedicated employees, I don’t know that any of this would have come to light,” he added.
Greenway would not comment Wednesday evening.
