Cunningham, Reitz voice frustration after council takes no action following closed-door discussion
By Delayna Earley
The Island News
Beaufort County Council members spent nearly three hours behind closed doors during a special called meeting held May 19 at the Beaufort County Government Robert Smalls Complex, ultimately taking no action once they returned to open session.
The meeting, which began at 4 p.m. and lasted approximately 2 hours and 49 minutes according to the county’s livestream archive, included only a brief public portion before council entered executive session. The agenda listed one item for the closed-door discussion – receiving legal advice covered by attorney-client privilege and discussing “issues related to the employment of a person regulated by council.”
County Council Chair Alice Howard called the meeting to order before council approved the agenda and unanimously voted to enter executive session.
The meeting agenda cited South Carolina Code Sections 30-4-70(A)(2) and 30-4-70(A)(1), exemptions under the state’s Freedom of Information Act that allow governing bodies to privately discuss legal matters protected by attorney-client privilege and certain personnel issues.
After spending the majority of the nearly three-hour meeting in executive session, council members returned to chambers shortly before adjournment. During the brief return to open session, council members confirmed no action would be taken following the closed-door discussion.
As the meeting was wrapping up, Councilman Logan Cunningham asked to speak. Vice Chair Anna Maria Tabernik responded “No,” but Cunningham continued, saying he was speaking as a point of personal privilege before voicing frustration with the lack of public action or statement following the lengthy executive session.
“I just want to put it on the record that I disagree with us not making a decision today and coming out with any statement,” Cunningham said. “This should not be ending with no action taken after this meeting.”
Councilman Thomas Reitz then added, “I agree with that as well.”
Chairwoman Alice Howard then opened the floor to the remaining council members, asking if anyone else wished to comment before the meeting adjourned. No additional comments were made publicly.
The agenda referenced discussion of “issues related to the employment of a person regulated by council.” Under Beaufort County’s council-administrator form of government, County Council directly employs only the county administrator, a position currently held by Michael Moore.
The special called meeting came one week after Beaufort County confirmed Chief Financial Officer Pinky Harriott’s employment with the county had ended on May 12. County officials have not publicly discussed details surrounding her departure.
Delayna Earley, who joined The Island News in 2022, formerly worked as a photojournalist for The Island Packet/The Beaufort Gazette, as well as newspapers in Indiana and Virginia. She can be reached at delayna.theislandnews@gmail.com.