Richland County, SC (WLTX) - South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has charged all seven members of the Richland County Recreation Commission Board, and says they'll have to face a hearing to determine if they'll be fired.
Haley sent a letter late Thursday to members, outlining three main charges against the group:
Charge 1: The Board neglected its duty to review nepotism complaints involving the Executive Director James Brown III and had knowledge he had family members working at the RCRC.
Charge 2: The Board neglected its duty in making compensation decisions regarding Executive Director James Brown III.
Charge 3: The Board neglected its duty and was misfeasant and malfeasant by failing to investigate claims of harassment, retaliation, and intimidation and in improperly delegating to investigate Brown to Brown's subordinate.
The charges against them will be heard by a three-person panel on November 30. Haley said those who don't come to the hearing will be removed from office on December 1.
Last month, a majority of Richland County's state senators and representatives asked Haley to remove five members of the board, claiming the panel didn't do enough to respond to claims of intimidation, nepotism, and harassment made against employees of the commission, including James Brown III.
Brown III retired from the commission last month, days after he was indicted on a misconduct in office charge and was arrested on for allegedly intimidating a witness.
The recreation commission is responsible for managing the parks and recreation programs throughout the county. Since March, five civil lawsuits have been filed against the commission, Brown, members of the board and other employees.
