Is Surfside Beach going on a firing spree? Employment matters up for discussion by city

Surfside Beach leaders on Tuesday are expected to talk behind closed doors about the professional fate of several top-ranking employees, along with an all-volunteer board.

During the town council’s executive session, time will be spent discussing “employment, appointment, compensation, promotion, demotion, discipline, or release” of the pier committee, interim fire chief, police chief Kenneth Hofmann, the fire chief and finance director, according to an agenda.

Town council member Cindy Keating, who has been openly critical of the pier committee while pushing for greater government transparency, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

A message left for Mayor Bob Hellyer Monday was not immediately returned.

Although city and town councils are permitted by law to privately talk about employment matters without disclosing names or entities, it’s illegal for any action to be taken during those closed sessions.

“Misuse of executive session is a violation of state law and can result in injunctive relief, civil fines, awards of attorney’s fees and invalidation of official actions related to the violation. Misuse can come in several forms, such as an executive session without properly advertising the meeting, or taking a vote to enter executive session,” the Municipal Association of South Carolina says on its website.

It’s not known which council member requested the item be added to the agenda, but it comes at a time of upheaval in the town of 4,200.

Last week, Rob Clemons and Diana King handed in their notice to leave to town administrator Gerald Vincent. Clemons led the town’s fire department since 2021 and briefly served as interim administrator, while King submitted a letter of retirement.

Clemons, King and police chief Kenneth Hofmann were all in line for pay raises under the current year’s budget until the town council rescinded them days before the start of the July 1 fiscal year.

On July 13, Hellyer told The Sun News that newly-installed administrator Gerald Vincent is examining what happened and is expected to draft “corrective measures” to ensure nothing similar takes place in the future.