County HR Boss Cautions Employees Against Sharing Business Information With Media

Directive Raises Questions About County’s Commitment to Transparency and Open Government

Beaufort County’s institutional commitment to free and open discourse faces doubts as an email from Katherine Mead, the county’s Human Resources Director, reminded all county employees to abstain from revealing any information about county business to the press or public. Instead, all inquiries should be directed to the designated public information officer. The email also warned of potential disciplinary action for noncompliance.

Overview of the Policy

The directive is based on Policy 3.9, which mandates that all media inquiries be referred to the Public Information Officer, who is the only authorized person to deliver or approve public statements on behalf of the county. Despite the policy’s existence, its enforcement has largely been lenient until recent events stirred the administration into action.

The clampdown on information sharing comes as county decisions, particularly those made during private executive sessions, attract mounting public and media scrutiny. The public’s growing concerns revolve around the swift hiring of a new county administrator, contentious handling of the new Daufuskie Ferry vendor’s ADA compliance, and the concealment of a report on suspicious purchases and spending.

Aftermath of the Directive

Interestingly, the directive appeared shortly after the resignation of Patrick Hill, the Assistant Administrator for Information Technology and Communications. Hill’s duties, which included overseeing several technological and communications departments, were subsequently distributed among other members of county administration.

The policy has strained transparency at Beaufort and complicated access to public records, often prolonging the handling of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Sources reveal that wait times for document access have extended to the full length of the legally permitted timeframe, an unnerving indication of the county’s approach to information sharing.

Departures Continue in Beaufort County

Patrick Hill’s exit from the county is just the latest in a series of high-profile departures following the controversial firing of County Administrator Greenway in July last year. Other departures include the Deputy Administrator and the CFO, both of whom resigned without a clear succession plan. Their absence leaves critical roles in Beaufort County’s administration unfilled and compounds the challenges faced by the incoming county administrator.

The past year has also witnessed several questionable actions, including undisclosed purchases of weighted blankets and unapproved expenditures for playground equipment. Investigations into these issues have further eroded public trust but have yet to yield significant changes.

Looking To The Future

As the county grapples with these challenges, the incoming County Administrator is expected to reinstate professionalism and restore public trust. While transparency and accountability remain central to this agenda, the enforcement of strict information-sharing policies raises questions about the county’s ability to balance these principles with the need for administrative control.

For the county to move forward, employees and citizens alike must partake in a rigorous dialog and engage in open discourse, ensuring accountability, driving innovation, and fortifying Beaufort’s commitment to its core principles and ethos.