Decision to make him Administrator unanimous
From staff reports
Beaufort County Council unanimously named Eric Greenway Beaufort County Administrator at Monday evening’s County Council meeting.
Greenway had been serving as Interim County Administrator since November 2020.
“Mr. Greenway has brought stability, increased morale and has demonstrated a depth and breadth of knowledge and experience needed for this position,” County Council Chairman Joseph Passiment said. “During this time, we have been able to assess his performance and potential, which takes the guesswork out of the hiring process at this time.”
The decision came after a two-hour executive session.
Greenway has more than 26 years of experience managing, directing, and administering programs related to finance, land use, infrastructure, real estate development planning, entitlement, disaster recovery, and permitting.
As Interim Administrator, Greenway worked with staff and County Council through the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to serve this Council and the citizens as the County Administrator,” Greenway said. “It is an honor to serve in such an amazingly beautiful place among amazingly beautiful people. I want to express my appreciation to the Council and my co-workers for their support and assistance as I’ve transitioned into this role-you all have been remarkable.”
Greenway became interim after Council forced former Beaufort County Administrator Ashley Jacobs to resign in October 2020.
In November, County Council approved an employment agreement to pay Greenway $190,000 to continue in his role as interim county administrator through June 30, 2021, despite his handling of the Bay Point development project earlier in the year.
Greenway was criticized by many in the community who thought he should not have relied on the “work and confirmation” provided by an individual from an outside entity when giving the green light to Bay Point developers to proceed to the zoning board phase with their application for an “ecotourism resort” on the barrier island.
In July, it was found that the organization in concern – The International Ecotourism Society and its Executive Director Jon Bruno – had a history of troubling allegations and is not a nonprofit as it had purported to be.
Greenway is a graduate of Winthrop University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science as well as a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education with emphasis in the Social Sciences. His professional experience includes Congressman John Spratt’s Office; Planning Director at York County Planning and Development Services; Planning and Zoning Director for Berkeley County; Planning Director for Bryan County and most recently, Community Development Director for Beaufort County.
Island News reporter Mindy Lucas contributed to this report.
