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Information on Humane Society Dismissal Receives Partial Response
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| By: Michael Smith |
January 19, 2008 |
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A pair of public records requests seeking more information about the dismissal of former Horry County Humane Society executive director Cindy Ott has only received a partial response as of press time.
Ott was dismissed Dec. 6, 2007, as the shelter's director, a day after the board of directors voted to fire her.
Since then, Ott has been assisting the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce in preparing for the upcoming Democratic presidential debate in Myrtle Beach.
Ott has also since applied for the vacant Grand Strand Humane Society director's post. She's one of dozens to have applied for the job.
"I don't know what they're going to do with [the application]," Ott said Saturday. "I did enjoy my time at the Grand Strand Humane Society."
Ott's firing prompted The Loris Scene to file a pair of S.C. Freedom of Information Act requests with the two humane societies.
The request asked for copies of Ott's personnel evaluations, her salary and compensation and exact dates of employment.
In addition, the request sought minutes from the board meetings during which the votes to fire were taken, as well as itemized lists of how each board member voted.
They also seek copies of any complaints that may have been filed against her.
The Scene received the Horry County Humane Society records Jan. 2, or 14 business days after the original FOIA request. A response letter was received the week prior.
In the humane society's response, the agency said it couldn't release Ott's personnel records without first receiving permission from the former director.
"At this point, we are primarily concerned about the privacy concerns of Ms. Ott," George Redman, board chairman, wrote in a Dec. 28, 2007 response letter.
"Since Ms. Ott is no longer an employee of the humane society, we are not in a position to obtain a written release from her in regard to your request," Redman's response continued. "If you obtain such a written release, we will be able to release information and documentation, to the extent that it exists, directly to you."
Ott told the Scene she has no problem with the release of her evaluation, and steps are being taken to obtain the records.
Ott says she was evaluated only a few weeks before she was fired, and that she didn't receive a negative job performance evaluation.
S.C. Press Association Jay Bender said the FOIA requires public bodies to release personnel records of public officials.
He said the law and subsequent S.C. Supreme Court decisions shield public bodies from liability when releasing such records.
"It's a common fault of public bodies to engage in an analysis designed to keep the public from knowing what's going on," Bender said. "The humane society is using, I think, an erroneous analysis of the law to avoid letting you know why this woman was let go."
The humane society also didn't release copies of the minutes, nor has it released an itemized list of how board members voted.
Redman said the minutes weren't available, but that they would be released after they're approved at the January board meeting.
The humane society did release records showing Ott's salary and dates and employment. The agency also waived copying and search fees at the Scene's request.
According to the records, Ott's salary was $55,000 per year. She was employed with the humane society from July 1, 2006 to Dec. 6, 2007, records show.
The humane society also released a copy of its bylaws, which the Scene verbally requested after filing its written FOIA request.
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©Loris Scene 2009
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