By MIKE GISICK
The Beaufort Gazette
White insisted Thursday he was told to fire Keefner.
"They never said anything about resignation," he said. "I'm not going to go and fire a man on my own knowing I'm only in charge for two weeks."
Within six weeks of that meeting, White had been forced to submit his own resignation after he was told his position had been cut from the budget.
"That's all they told me: restructuring," White said Thursday. "Now they're saying it's because of Keefner. All I did was what I was told to do."
By MIKE GISICK
The Beaufort Gazette
HARDEEVILLE -- Faced with widening criticism over the ouster of the city treasurer and several senior police officers, City Manager Shane Haynes offered his first public defense of those moves this weekend, more than three months after the shake-up began.
Haynes said he moved to revamp the police department beginning in May after he became convinced that internal "disharmony" was undermining the department's performance and as he became increasingly disturbed by the performance of three senior officers.
Those concerns came to a head, he said, during police Chief James Hubbard's two-week leave during the first half of May.
"We had a significant problem with divisions emerging within the department," Haynes said. "It was obvious to the administration that our mid-level management ... had not demonstrated that it could perform in the absence of the chief."
Haynes' account of events in May and June, parts of which were disputed by several of the former officers, came in the wake of sharp attacks on Haynes' handling of the situation and two new threats of litigation.
The former treasurer and two officers have filed civil rights complaints claiming they were forced from their jobs because they are black.
Late last week, former Staff Sgt. Rick Keefner, who is white, said it has become his "No. 1 priority" to pursue legal action against the city.
Friday, a top official with a group that provides legal aid to police officers leveled harsh criticism at Haynes and said his organization likely would decide early this week whether to pursue legal action against the city.
Richard Banks, an operational director with the Southern States Police Benevolent Association, said veteran officers cannot easily be replaced and deserved better than seeing their jobs slashed in a back room.
"I find it rather disturbing that a city manager would conduct himself in such an unprofessional manner," Banks said. "He has exposed taxpayers to serious liability. I really don't know what he's thinking."
In all, the city treasurer and five police officers have either been fired or forced to resign since May. The city has at times appeared to shift its explanation for those moves -- first calling them a restructuring effort and then announcing staff had uncovered "possible procedural and other irregularities" involving former employees -- while offering virtually no details.
About 50 mostly black residents picketed City Hall last month demanding answers. The city has gone to court seeking to block The Beaufort Gazette from viewing the former employees' personnel records.
Differing Accounts
The turmoil began May 1, when city officials asked Chief Hubbard to take two-weeks leave for what Haynes and Mayor Rodney Cannon later described as a badly needed vacation.
The same day, Capt. Jerome White, who had been placed in command of the department, met with Haynes and Deputy City Manager Kevin Griffin at City Hall, White said Thursday.
The first order of business, White said, was Keefner.
"(Haynes) said, 'Keefner's got to be fired today,'" White said. "He said, 'I'd do it myself, but I'd prefer if you did it.'"
Saturday, Haynes said that by May he had determined that Keefner -- a 16-year veteran of Hardeeville police -- had become a divisive force in the department.
"Officer Keefner was one of several officers whose attitudes and interactions within the department had grown increasingly negative," Haynes said.
But Haynes said he instructed White to request Keefner's resignation and fire him only if Keefner refused to step down. The distinction is significant because officers who are fired can have their police certifications revoked, making it tough for them to find another law enforcement job in South Carolina.
White insisted Thursday he was told to fire Keefner.
"They never said anything about resignation," he said. "I'm not going to go and fire a man on my own knowing I'm only in charge for two weeks."
Within six weeks of that meeting, White had been forced to submit his own resignation after he was told his position had been cut from the budget.
"That's all they told me: restructuring," White said Thursday. "Now they're saying it's because of Keefner. All I did was what I was told to do."
Haynes said Saturday that White's "unfortunate mishandling" of Keefner's termination was only one factor in the decision to let the 19-year veteran go.
"It resulted from much the same reason that officer Keefner was asked to resign -- personality conflicts, failure to follow directives and complete assigned tasks, divisive attitude and actions and erosion in the commitment to team above self," Haynes said.
Ditto for Lt. Eric Washington, who submitted his resignation in mid-May after he was given the choice of stepping down or being fired, Haynes said.
Haynes said the decision to ask for White's and Washington's resignations was made by Hubbard. But Haynes said he supported it.
Hubbard has declined repeated requests for an interview in recent months.
Keefner said last week that he believed Hubbard had lost control of personnel decision-making.
"Shane's trying to backpedal from it now, but he's the one calling the shots," Keefner said. "I think he just used the captain as a pawn to do his dirty work."
Officer Cornelius Shiflett, who was forced to resign July 5 after a run-in with Cannon and City Councilor Brooks Willis over fireworks enforcement, said at the time he also believed Hubbard had lost control of personnel decisions.
Shiflett, Hardeeville's 2005 officer of the year, now works for the Jasper County Sheriff's Office, Chief Deputy Roy Hughes said. So does Mike Benton, a former Hardeeville officer who resigned last month after he was transferred to the recreation department.
Banks, who left Hardeeville last week with harsh words, said residents need to consider that it takes years for an officer to learn their job and their community.
"This incompetent is just throwing these people overboard like they mean nothing," he said of Haynes. "These men have families."
Haynes said he was well aware of that.
"I have spent many sleepless nights concerned for them and their well-being, regardless of what some may think of me," he said.
But with tens-of-thousands of new residents expected to arrive here during the next decade, Haynes said the police department needed to be overhauled now. He said the city had contracted with a firm called Police Management Consulting to come up with a restructuring plan, which had been promised in July but never arrived. The city has advertised to hire an assistant police chief.
"I don't regret the tough decision we have made," Haynes said.
And while Haynes has come under increasing fire from outside city government, he still apparently enjoys the support of the City Council, which made him one of the best-paid city managers in the state under the city's new budget.
About that treasurer
Questions still linger over the removal of Santesia Henderson, the city's former treasurer and human resources director.
Keefner said he believed that Henderson might have played some role in his dismissal. He said he had clashed with her over a worker's compensation claim resulting from his fall down a flight of stairs in December 2005. And Keefner said it was Washington -- who is married to Henderson -- who marked his separation paperwork with the words "do not rehire -- contact human resources."
"For a long time I would have said she was the one running City Hall," Keefner said of the former treasurer.
Officials said last month that an auditor would be brought in to investigate the "possible irregularities" uncovered since Henderson's departure.
Haynes, who had said no signs of impropriety had emerged after Henderson left, said the investigation would include finances and personnel decisions.
"We're going to look at everything," he said.
Henderson said she'd received a letter from the city stating she was asked to resign because she became upset over her husband's removal -- an explanation she called ridiculous.
"It's just one lie after another," she said. "Enough is enough."
Henderson, Washington and White all have filed civil rights complaints with the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, their lawyer, Susan Broch, has said.
Part of Henderson's claim is that she was retaliated against because she is married to Washington, Broch said.
Keefner, meanwhile, has been allowed to resign, Haynes said. Haynes said Keefner's termination paperwork was never submitted to the state.
Keefner said he submitted a letter of resignation to Hubbard shortly after the chief returned from leave and had since received a recommendation from Hubbard. But Keefner said he regretted the decision to resign.
"I resigned on what I now consider to be ill advice," he said. "I recant my resignation."
Keefner said he stopped by City Hall Thursday evening planning to attend the city council meeting but felt sick and didn't go inside.
"It's embarrassing, having everybody know that you got fired," he said. "I ran into a guy yesterday, and I know I must have arrested his father at least seven times."
Monday, January 29, 2007
When Brooks Willis and Mayor Cannon struck.
Article detailing Chief Hubbard's demise.
By Savannah Morning News
Created 2007-01-17 23:30
Erinn McGuire | Thursday, January 18, 2007 at 12:30 am
HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - The city's police chief was fired Tuesday, the ninth officer to have been terminated, asked to resign or reassigned to another city department in the past year.
Hardeeville terminates police chief
By Savannah Morning News
Created 2007-01-17 23:30
Erinn McGuire | Thursday, January 18, 2007 at 12:30 am
HARDEEVILLE, S.C. - The city's police chief was fired Tuesday, the ninth officer to have been terminated, asked to resign or reassigned to another city department in the past year.
Chief James Hubbard had been with the Hardeeville Police Department for 26 years. He served as chief for the past six years. City Manager R. Shane Haynes announced Wednesday that Hubbard no longer was with the police department following a nine-month review of city departments, including the police department.
Haynes announced the move in a prepared statement Wednesday.
"There have been numerous meetings between (Hubbard) and the administration during this time in an effort to address the myriad of issues that have been identified as the review progressed," he said. Haynes made no mention as to what the issues might be.
His statement said he would answer no more questions Wednesday, citing city policies to not address personnel issues.
But there have been problems, and at least some people have questioned the recent changes.
Jimmy Pinckney, a longtime Hardeeville resident who now resides in Island West, said Hubbard's parting was not amicable.
"Right is right, and wrong is wrong, and this is wrong," Pinckney said. "The city of Hardeeville don't care about the old Hardeeville or the people who have lived there their entire lives. They don't want any input from the old citizens."
Pinckney said the city's reasoning for Hubbard's dismissal was too vague.
"The people are owed an explanation," he said. "You just don't go in and upset a small community and not be open about it. It makes it seem like they're hiding something."
Hubbard wasn't the only officer to leave the department this week. On Wednesday morning, Pfc. Warren Callais turned in his badge, said Hardeeville spokesman Paul Floeckher. A third officer quit Sunday, leaving the police department with about eight officers.
Floeckher said he wasn't sure why Callais left the department. Pfc. Chris McIntosh accepted a job with the nearby Ridgeland Police Department.
In early 2006, several officers left the department. The first to go was Rick Keefner, a staff sergeant with 16 years of experience. Eric Broxton, Lt. Eric Washington, Neal Shiflett and Mike Benton left soon after. Capt. Jerome White, the department's former second in command, also left last year. White, Benton and Shiflett are now Jasper County deputies.
During the same time, Hubbard was forced to take a two week vacation.
Later that summer, city officials said the police department was undergoing reorganization. In June, a "reduction in force" was approved for the police department. It was determined the police department had become top heavy and needed more officers on the streets.
A city council meeting will take place at 6 p.m. tonight at City Hall on Main Street in Hardeeville.
Lt. Dan Martin will act as interim chief.
The city will conduct a "national search" for a permanent replacement, Haynes said.
Calls to Hubbard's home were not returned Wednesday night.
Article written when Shane Haynes was forced out of office.
She cried while she was doing it, but Springfield Mayor Doris Flythe helped Shane Haynes, the city's first administrator, clear out his office Tuesday afternoon.
Haynes forced to resign as Springfield administrator
Mayor, others wear black in silent protest as council accepts resignation letter.
By Charles Cochran
Savannah Morning News
She cried while she was doing it, but Springfield Mayor Doris Flythe helped Shane Haynes, the city's first administrator, clear out his office Tuesday afternoon.
A short time earlier, a two-member delegation from the City Council had paid Haynes a visit, informing him that a majority of the council planned to vote him out of a job that night.
Council members Keith Johnson and Randy Shearouse gave Haynes, who had been working without a contract since he took the job in February, the option of resigning with a 90-day severance package.
Text of Haynes' resignation letter
Dear Mayor Flythe:
I hereby tender my resignation as the City Administrator for the City of Springfield effective immediately. I do this with a heavy heart. Not because I have any ill will toward you, City Council, the staff or any of the wonderful citizens of Springfield. I offer my resignation because I care too much for this City to be the cause of even a moment of divisiveness.
I feel the same about Springfield today as I did the day I accepted the job. I feel a tremendous sense of pride knowing that I have had the opportunity to work alongside some of the finest individuals the Lord has made.
I pray that he will continue to bless you, the Council, staff members and citizens of Springfield. It has truly been a pleasure. Thank you.
Sincerely,
R. Shane Haynes
Haynes accepted the offer. So Flythe wore black as she read his resignation letter to a hushed council chamber Tuesday evening, as did councilman Stephen Mobley and Better Hometown Program director Jennifer Senter.
"It was a sight to behold," Flythe said later. "We couldn't protest out loud, but we did it in our own subtle way."
There are no plans to hire a replacement. Instead, the city will revert the structure that existed before Haynes was hired in February, with City Clerk Cathy Rushing overseeing day-to-day affairs.
Flythe said Haynes fell prey to a block of four council members -- Johnson, Shearouse, Max Neidlinger, and Harris Hinely, Sr. -- who are bent on slashing city property taxes. But she believes city services may end up suffering.
"Cutting city taxes is fine if you've got money coming in from another source, but we don't have any more money coming in," Flythe said. "We've got the (state) Environmental Protection Division down our necks wanting us to raise the water and sewer rates, but they don't want to do that, either.
"I don't know what they think we're going to use for money."
Shearouse said the matter boiled down to Haynes failing to secure state and federal grants that would have helped to defray his $45,000-per-year salary.
"When we first hired Shane, those grants were part of the hiring conditions that we discussed," Shearouse said. "It came down to a budget issue as to whether Springfield could afford an administrator. Just looking at the budget, we didn't feel like it could (afford an administrator) any longer because the position would not be subsidized through grants or other outside income."
At the same time, it looks unlikely that Springfield will move forward with Haynes' proposal to privatize its public works department, turning it over to Operations Management International, Inc.
Shearouse said he remains open to the idea, but that he's not convinced that it's right for Springfield. "I'm not sure that it's feasible at this point. I'm not sure that that's what Springfield needs," he said.
Ray Richard, a regional manager for Operations Management International, Inc., laid out a detailed proposal for managing Springfield's $500,000 per year public works operation during a council meeting earlier this month.
Haynes, who didn't attend Tuesday night's council meeting and severed his final tie with the city when he turned in a car Wednesday morning, said he has no regrets -- and that he isn't angry.
"I think that in small-town government, especially in south Georgia, change is not always seen as a good thing in the minds of many people," Haynes said.
Whether he is there or not, the city needs to move right now, Haynes said, to accommodate the new residents that will move in during the next five or 10 years.
"Hopefully, there'll be some measures taken to plan for that growth and really focus on the city's infrastructure," he said.
Haynes said he had believed for some time that his job might be in jeopardy.
"As the year has gone along, there have been some events that sort of signaled that the City Council may have believed they made a mistake by hiring an administrator," Haynes said.
There was a hard-fought series of negotiations with the county government on fire service contracts and boundary lines for water delivery.
Council members are looking hard at possible cuts in the city police force next year.
And earlier this year, the council formed roughly into blocks after Johnson won the mayor pro tem's position that councilman Steve Mobley had long held.
Haynes, who moved his wife and toddler-aged son into a home outside Guyton in March, had worked in the Bulloch County tax commissioner's office prior to taking the Springfield job. He said he's not sure what he'll do next. Haynes holds a master's degree in public administration from Georgia Southern University.
Shane Haynes has a poor track record.
The city has tallied what it owes the state in employee retirement funds, and the bill will be paid this week, City Administrator Shane Haynes said Tuesday.
The Beaufort Gazette: Administrator: State will get pension funds
www.beaufortgazette.com/local_news/story/1136088p-1178622c.html
Published on: 2/27/2002 Last Visited: 2/27/2002
The city has tallied what it owes the state in employee retirement funds, and the bill will be paid this week, City Administrator Shane Haynes said Tuesday.
But Mayor Pro Tem Bronco Bostick said the matter goes "way deeper than making a bunch of payments." He's contacted Chief Deputy Roy Hughes of the Jasper County Sheriff's Office to request a State Law Enforcement Division investigation.
Haynes' and Bostick's comments came 24 hours after The Beaufort Gazette reported that the city was behind on employees' retirement fund payments.
The city takes money out of employees' paychecks and funnels it into a state retirement fund on their behalf. A state Budget and Control Board spokesman confirmed Monday that the city is $150,000 in arrears and hasn't paid into the fund for more than a year, nor sent matching funds as required by state law.
The board threatened to report Hardeeville to the state treasurer's office and to ask that office to withhold money designated for the city. Treasury payments are made quarterly, and Hardeeville has received $35,513 this fiscal year, officials have said.
...
Haynes said the city is working with Mims, Mellen, Hazel & Co., its Bluffton-based auditing firm, to finalize retirement reports.
Thirty-four employees were affected by the non-payment of funds, he said.
"We've gone through the entire matter with every employee affected," he said.
"There is no money missing. None of the employees will lose anything."
Hardeeville Business members receive letter.
Hardeeville Business members receive letter.
To whom it may concern (and hopefully, it will concern some!):
From: A long time resident of the wonderful city of Hardeeville
Regarding the Hardeeville Police Department, and the so called restructuring of same:
I have several questions that I believe should be addressed.
Do the members of the Hardeeville Town Council realize what is going on in the Police department? Yes, the termination of the Chief was probably warranted, however, several concerns now arise. The placement of power and supervision has now been bestowed on one who has been known to represent Hardeeville in an unprofessional manner, to say the least. Incidents of public alcohol intoxication, driving the city vehicle for personal use (hunting, fishing, personal long distance trips and alcohol use while in the city vehicle), of which were known to have been reported to upper level management by members of the community or by officers of the department, were obviously ignored or approved of and now have been rewarded by promotion to interim chief. Professionalism (or maybe education) is certainly not a strong point for the interim chief, as evidenced by department memos that are filled with grammatical and spelling errors, sent on a department letterhead that self appoints the lieutenant as the “Intern” chief instead of interim chief. To speak with officers, the morale is certainly at an all time low (that is, when officers dare to speak, for they have been threatened with termination if they speak to the citizens or members of the council regarding what is happening in the police department or discussion of the behavior of the upper management in recent meetings at city hall).
Do the members of the council realize who is patrolling their streets? Four officers are not yet certified (have not yet attended the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy), and in fact have no prior law enforcement experience. Three are certified patrolmen, on Corporal, one Sergeant and the interim Chief (who, by the way, is not a legal South Carolina resident which is a requirement to be a police officer here. He lives in Rincon, GA, yet holds a South Carolina drivers license, which I believe to be a violation of the law). As a matter of fact, only one officer resides in the city limits.
Do the council members realize that increased revenue, by way of traffic enforcement, seems to be the goal for upper management? Do they realize that upper management would be satisfied with the elimination of the current police department, having a clean slate, so to speak, at the expense of the safety of the citizens of Hardeeville? A suggestion was made by same upper management, (who also does not reside in South Carolina), that the Sheriff’s department could answer calls in the interim. As you may be aware, Jasper County in a very large county with two deputies routinely covering the entire area. Response time would certainly be increased dramatically. With the expected growth, who will be drawn to out city?
I cannot understand, if council members area aware of such conduct, how they allow this behavior to continue. If this type of behavior is condoned by our elected leaders, what kind of community or family environment are we choosing to live in? Hometown Hardeeville is fast becoming a thing of the past and other law enforcement communities look at us as a joke.
I am, apologetically, writing this letter anonymously. I fear that revealing my identity would being hardship, even retaliation, on me yet I feel that it’s time for things to come to light.
Following are incidents that are documented, (or can be verified), involving the acting interim chief:
Frequently socializes with his subordinate officers, with heavy alcohol use, in the city vehicle. On one such occasion, requested an on duty Hardeeville officer, (in a marked unit), to meet with him and follow him home, (out of state), maintaining cell phone contact so as to advise him when he was leaving the road. The officer, upon returning to the city, reported the incident to his supervisor and the police chief.
A citizen, dining on a late night at the Waffle House, observed an intoxicated Lt. Martin shooting spitballs and heckling a Hardeeville police officer who was working off duty there. This incident was reported to City Hall by said citizen.
Very shortly after above incident, the same lieutenant was observed drinking at a Bluffton restaurant/bar, (again with the subordinate officers), throwing food that prompted an altercation with another diner.
The lieutenant was counseled on above activity and advised that he was no longer to socialize in public with subordinate officers, yet continues to do so.
During hunting season, the lieutenant’s city vehicle was observed frequently unattended at mile marker 4 on I-95 while he was hunting. It is an ordinance violation to hunt in the city limits. The city vehicle has also been seen pulling a personal boat around town.
As a last note, the weekend after being named interim chief, he socialized with his subordinate officers, (heavy alcohol consumption was involved), resulting in one officer unable to report for duty the following night.
The city manager’s behavior at a recent meeting with the police department employees should be reviewed.
In closing: Is the appointed interim chief the best we could do? Is this the direction that the council is entrusting the city manager to lead the police department in? Is this the kind of city that the council wants for it’s citizens?
CC: members of city council, The Island Packet, The Beaufort Gazette, The Blutton Today, Savannah Morning News, Hardeeville City Hall, Hardeeville Businesses.
Acting Chief acts like he can spell.
Acting Chief Dan Martin proves education is key.
Acting Chief Dan Martin has proven that a good education is key to the success of any police Chief, so let's hope that he gets replaced soon.
Please view the attached memo he wrote.
