Charles Warren Chairman, Brunswick County Board of Social Services 229 NE 40" Street Oak Island, North Carolina 28465 in November 1572010 William M. Sue, Chair Brunswick County Board of Commissioners VIA HAND DELIVERY Re: Conduct of Brunswick County Attorney Dear Mr. Sue: On behalf of the Brunswick County Board of Social Services, I wish to bring to your attention certain actions of Huey Marshall, County Attorney, with respect to certain personnel issues within the Brunswick County Department of Social Services, and Mr. Marshall's recent efforts to obtain minutes from closed sessions of the Brunswick County Board of Social Services. As you are aware, at least three (3) employees of the Brunswick County Department of Social Services filed written grievances, alleging sexual harassment and other acts of misconduct, against the former Director, James F. Orrock, through the County Manager’s office. These employees, in the course of the subsequent investigation undertaken by the Board of Social Services, complained that no action was taken because of the grievances that had been filed, and complained further that they had been retaliated against because of these grievanees. We have learned that at some time after these employees filed the grievances, Mr. Marshall personally retrieved these grievances and delivered them to Mr. Orrock, who subsequently did not act on any of these grievances. Our Board believes that Mr. Marshall’s conduct, in that regard, was inappropriate, an opinion that we believe is shared by the County Manager's office. Within the past week, Mr. Marshall requested the Interim Director of the Department of Social Services, Neal Walters, to provide him with copies of the minutes of the closed sessions of the Board of Social Services, as he had a request made of him by certain members of the press for copies of those minutes. First, the Board has its own attomey, Gary K. Shipman from Wilmington, who has responded to these same requests, after consultation with our Board and representatives of the Institute of Government about whether any of those minutes are public records and therefore subject to disclosure. Second, the Board does not believe that Mr. Marshall has any right to be requesting minutes of closed sessions of the Board of Social Services, any more than our attorney would have the right to request minutes of the closed session of the Board of County Commissioners. These issues are uniquely within the jurisdiction of the Board of Social Services, and not subject to oversight from the County Attomey’s office. We have adequately responded to all media requests, and any such request made to Mr. Marshall should have been directed to our attorney for an appropriate response.L trust that the Board of County Commissioners understands the concems of the Board of Social Services. Our Board well understands its obligations to Brunswick County, and simply want to insure that all representatives of Brunswick County, including the County Attorney, act within the boundaries of their authority and in accordance with the legal obligations imposed upon them. ‘Thanking you in advance for your consideration of the Board’s concerns, I remain Sincerely yours, Ze Charles Warren Chair, Brunswick County Board of Social Services cc: Brunswick County Commissioners Marty Lawing ‘Attomey Gary Shipman