Horry County to review three-year offer between Coast RTA and possible new CEO

Horry County’s administration committee will meet Brian Piascik, Coast RTA’s chief executive officer finalist, Thursday and consider a contract he and Coast agreed to that includes a three-year deal valued in the $140,000 range.

Piascik, a long-time transit group manager for URS Corp., and having advised small communities and states throughout the nation on transportation issues, was announced as Coast’s selection for its next CEO on April 7 before getting the hire approved by Horry County Council. The approval is required through a funding agreement the transit and county entered in 2014, which is part of the county’s effort for accountability on the $1.05 million it gives Coast annually.

The contract, which still needs the go-ahead from the county, offers an automatic renewal after three years unless either party gives a 90-day notice of intent not to renew it.

The Sun News filed a Freedom of Information Act request on April 8 to Coast Board Chairman Bernie Silverman and Michelle Cantey, spokeswoman for Coast, for the offer letter sent to Piascik.

South Carolina law allows government agencies to reply to a person making such a request “15 days (excepting Saturdays, Sundays, and legal public holidays) of the receipt of any such request notify the person making such request of its determination and the reasons therefor.” The 15th day was Wednesday.

After conversations at the Coast RTA board meeting, emails, texts and phone calls between The Sun News and Cantey, she sent an email to the newspaper shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday.

“As per our conversation earlier [Wednesday], Coast RTA has determined that your FOIA request is reasonable and is in the process of compiling the documents... requested by the Sun News on April 8,” Cantey wrote. “We anticipate delivering the requested documents to the Sun News by end of business Friday, May 1. Fees, regarding the labor and copies to fulfill this request, have been waived as a courtesy.”

Cantey said Wednesday that a certified letter signed for April 13 by The Sun News that acknowledged receipt of The Sun News’ request served as the agency’s response. The letter stated “It is the intent of The Coast RTA to fully comply with the Act and to provide all documents available to us that are deemed to fall within the realm of ‘public information.’”

Council members who have seen the offer letter said they support it.

The contract includes a four-month severance with an additional week’s pay per year served. After a period of either six months or one year, Coast and Piascik will sit down and discuss incentives for various accomplishments, including getting Coast off the “at-risk” list of the S.C. Department of Transportation.

Horry County Councilman Gary Loftus said some things, like the “at-risk” incentive, should be part of his job description.

“One part of my brain says, ‘Isn’t he supposed to get us off the at-risk as part of his job?” Loftus said. “And so that one, I’ll debate. But then there are others like finding recurring funding other than what we have now. At least they’re measurable criteria.”

In the past, Loftus called into question former CEO Rollins’ salary for being about $134,000 in May 2013 and then reported as $174,000 later that year. It was later discovered a change in reporting salary and benefits was the reason for the difference. He said the proposed salary for Piascik is alright by him as long as the transit sees results.

“There is a way that will make me happy if everything sort of comes together,” Loftus said. “There’s a lot of moving parts here. There’s more than just a contract.”

Councilman Johnny Vaught, who is also on Coast’s board of directors, said he reviewed the contract, as well, and was pleased.

“I think it’s a valid contract that we went over,” Vaught said. “I think it’s good.”

This story was originally published April 29, 2015 at 7:52 PM with the headline "Horry County to review three-year offer between Coast RTA and possible new CEO."