Personnel matters are one of the few things that local governments are not required by law to share with the public if requested to do so. Therefore, it isn’t known – and may never be known – which Guilford County employee is in very hot water.
However, from the evidence that is publicly available, it’s clear that the county commissioners are extremely concerned about something going on in the county government.
The Guilford County Board of Commissioners did something it almost never does: called a special meeting to go into closed session and discuss a personnel issue.
Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston told the Rhino Times that he of course could not provide any details pertaining to the matter.
What suggests the seriousness of the situation is that the commissioners called a special Friday, June 27, meeting at noon to discuss things. Usually, when it comes to addressing personnel matters, the board does so in a closed session following a regular meeting.
However, this obviously couldn’t wait.
The Rhino Times cannot recall a time when the board has called a special meeting to discuss a personnel matter. Alston said he does believe it has happened before, though he added he wasn’t sure when that was. Regardless, it is at least very rare and it is something that rises to a level that it needed to be addressed immediately.
It will be interesting to see if, for instance, after the meeting, any high-profile employees end up leaving Guilford County government.
The meeting is being held in the Commissioners Chambers on the 2nd floor of the Old County Courthouse at 301 W. Market St. in downtown Greensboro.
The board is required by state law to open the meeting in public before going behind closed doors. The board must also by law adjourn the meeting in public.
Any votes by the board must be conducted in public and, in some cases, the board does take an action after the closed session.
The official stated purpose of the Friday meeting is “to enter into closed session pursuant to N.C.G.S. §143-318.11(a)(3&6) to consult with the County Attorney and to discuss a personnel matter; and to conduct any other necessary business.”
N.C.G.S. §143-318.11(a)(3) allows a public body to go into closed session to consult with an attorney in order to preserve attorney-client privilege – usually about lawsuits, potential litigation or legal claims.
N.C.G.S. §143-318.11(a)(6) allows closed sessions to discuss personnel matters – specifically things like hiring, firing, disciplining or evaluating a public employee or officer.
