News Summary

Beaufort County Council is under fire for its lack of transparency amid investigations regarding improper spending and alleged unethical behavior among staff. Despite promises from new chair Alice Howard to increase public engagement, critics argue that the council is withholding essential information related to investigations, including significant financial implications and the process details. The controversial release of a redacted report and slow responses to public records requests have further fueled concerns about accountability in county governance.

Beaufort County Council Faces Criticism for Lack of Transparency Amid Recent Investigations

Beaufort County is grappling with allegations of secrecy from its county council, despite assurances of transparency from leadership.

The council, under new chair Alice Howard>, promised to enhance public engagement through:

• Meetings held throughout the county.
• Earlier public comment periods during meetings.

However, recent investigations have highlighted significant issues:

• A report on invalid employee “p-card” purchases cost taxpayers approximately $350,000. This report was initially withheld from the public and only shared with law enforcement after scrutiny.
• Despite this significant expenditure, no member of the public has accessed the crucial report.
• A subsequent investigation into county staff, costing $60,000, concluded inconclusively, yet resulted in the decision to keep the findings private.
• This investigation led to claims of a “witch hunt” against whistleblowers concerning alleged leaks of sensitive information.

Additionally, the county released a heavily redacted version of the report, drawing accusations of overreaching privilege contrary to state laws. Notably, the council has not disclosed:

• The number of employees interviewed during the investigations.
• The methods used in the investigative process.

Critics assert these actions are at odds with the council’s stated commitment to transparency. County Administrator Michael Moore> noted the council could have released more detailed findings while protecting employee identities but opted not to do so.

The council has also faced backlash over slow responses to public records requests, with critics deeming this behavior illegal. In response, the county has employed two Freedom of Information Act specialists to expedite these responses.

Significantly, the council voted unanimously to waive attorney-client privilege regarding a subpoena from the South Carolina Ethics Commission, related to investigations of alleged unethical behavior among employees. Since early 2023, a total of nine complaints about unethical conduct within the Beaufort County workforce have been filed.

In light of these challenges, former County Administrator Eric Greenway> was terminated amid allegations of mismanagement and misconduct, yet the specifics of his actions remain confidential.

Chair Alice Howard> has been in her role since January 2024 and has pledged to restore public trust through transparent governance.

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Additional Resources

• The State: Critique on Transparency
• Wikipedia: Transparency in Government
• Island Packet: Political News
• Google Search: Beaufort County Politics
• Your Island News: Transparency Issues
• Google Scholar: Transparency in Government
• Post and Courier: Ethics Investigation
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Ethics
• Your Island News: County Council Vote
• Google News: Beaufort County Ethics Investigation