SURFSIDE BEACH, SC (WBTW) -Surfside Beach town leaders held a special council meeting Saturday morning, to discuss whether to fire the town administrator.
“There were three of us that didn’t know anything about the meeting until the public found out about it and of course that was a disappointment,” said Councilwoman Julie Samples. Four council members called an official town meeting to discuss dismissing Town Administrator Micki Fellner for “unacceptable conduct and violation of duties”. Samples was not one of those four. When she first heard about the meeting, “Oh, I was shocked. I was surprised. I was very much surprised, considering she’s been doing such a phenomenal job,” she said.
Councilman Randle Stevens disagrees. News 13 asked him why he and three other council members called Saturday’s meeting. All he would say is, “we should be fully informed. I don’t think we are.” However, Samples said she doesn’t believe Fellner’s job was on the line because of her performance – “This whole show today was about personalities and not performance.” To which Stevens said, “Personality had nothing to do with this. It was a business decision. Strictly business.” Stevens wouldn’t clarify what that business is.
Soon after the meeting started, council decided not to allow any public comment and went into executive session. When they came out, four council members ultimately voted to keep the administrator. “I’m very satisfied,” said Mayor Bob Childs. “I have a lot of confidence in the town administrator. We have a lot going on right now – pier, beach renourishment, amongst other things. So this would be an absolute bad time to change an administrator, in my opinion.”
Surfside Beach Town Council will meet on Tuesday.