Former Beaufort County Administrator’s firing upheld, causes include disregard of spending rules
After two months of silence on the causes that led to the firing of former County Administrator Eric Greenway, County Council Chairman Joe Passiment read aloud the specific reasons for termination. Passiment’s comments and Greenway’s response, delivered by his attorney, were held in a public special session on Monday in council chambers. Passiment cited Greenway’s failure to follow the statutes on hiring of outside contractors, his relationship with a former contractor turned employee and his disregard for the county’s procurement process. Greenway’s attorney countered by using the county’s own words from a recent performance appraisal to paint a picture of the administrator as a model employee and leader.
In his reading of the causes for termination, Passiment first detailed the issues council found with Beaufort County’s contract with Elementzal LLC. Noted were concerns about Greenway’s “social relationship” with the company’s two founders, Angela Hassinger and Lisa Lynch. Questions were raised about why the contract called for Elementzal to directly report to Greenway instead of a department or assistant administrator. Passiment questioned the timing of Elementzal filing their state articles of incorporation “just 25 days before” Greenway, on behalf of the county, signed the consulting deal. Additionally cited was Greenway’s approval of travel expenses for the outside contractor to attend a conference in Atlanta, a violation of the county’s rules on contractor-reimbursed travel. Finally, Passiment said Greenway “violated several provisions” of Beaufort County’s procurement and purchasing rules, “Council has reviewed the county’s procurement file on this contract It appears that in a period of just 30 days before February 28, 2023 and March 30, 2023, you approved three non-itemized bills for professional service totaling $35,543.75.
Passiment said, “Additionally it is clear to council - after reviewing the contract and Elementzal’s website - that Elementzal is not in the business of providing consulting services regarding the development of opioid education and marketing. The company identifies itself as ‘independent strategic growth consulting firm.’”
“The violations that are set forth above are not merely accidental,” read Passiment. “They were intentional and they constitute a breach of your (Greenway’s) contract with employment with Beaufort County.” “The ordinances you violated are lawful directives of the county, passed in open public meetings of the county, which do not reflect or evade the responsibilities and authority conferred on you by the South Carolina Constitution code of laws. As such, your actions constitute cause (for termination) under your contract.”
Passiment then turned to issues with Greenway’s creation of a county job for Lynch. The council believes Greenway failed to follow the proper process, “although it’s not clear if you complied with the Beaufort County hiring process from a technical perspective,” Passiment read, “it is clear that you did not comply with the spirit of the hiring process.”
“It appears to council, largely verified through your own text messages, that you intentionally created a position for Miss Lynch, structured it for reporting purposes in a way that sheltered her from the requirements of productivity and then hired her, a woman with whom you had a prolonged personal relationship,” he said. “Specifically you provided Miss Lynch with a six-figure salary...at your direction and contrary to the way the position was originally structured, she was made to report directly to you.”
Passiment’s reading of the county’s statement continued, “After a falling out with Ms. Lynch - several days after she started work - you texted her on Saturday night stating that she was now just an employee of Beaufort County, implying that prior to the falling out you considered her to be something more than that. Something superior to or (more) important than other county employees,”
Passiment cited that no budget for Lynch’s position existed and the proper process was not followed., “all at the expense of the county.”
Attorney Paul Porter came to the lectern to deliver a rebuttal of the county’s finding. He did so as Greenway sat in the gallery listening to the special session. Porter’s comments started with, “Mr. Greenway is a long-tenured public servant and I’m hopeful that with time and the completion of the investigation, you will determine that in retrospect there was not cause for his termination.” “Every action Mr. Greenway took was, within his judgment, in furtherance of the best interest of this county’s citizens.” Porter added.
In an unexpected turn, Porter claimed that Greenway, “did not ask for the role as county administrator and, at first, he resisted it.” “He (Greenway) did not claim to have knowledge of procurement and finance.” and “he did a good job by all accounts.”
Porter continued, reading from Greenway’s county (performance) evaluation that his client “was an outstanding leader who changed the way employees are perceived by the public.”
Following Porter’s presentation, Passiment asked for motions. Hearing nothing, he called for the council vote resulting in a unanimous vote to affirm July’s termination of Greenway’s contract.
After the session ended, Passiment said, “What we did today was, what we said we were going to do at the proper time, we were going to divulge all of the information.”
Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner said the hearing was a “remnant of a larger thing” alluding to the broader investigation currently ongoing by The Public Integrity Unit for alleged misconduct by Greenway. The unit is a joint effort between the 1st and 14th circuit solicitors’ offices.
Greenway and his attorney declined to comment following Monday’s hearing.
Editor’s note: this story was updated at 7:42 p.m.
This story was originally published September 11, 2023 at 12:59 PM.
