Town releases information regarding Conaway firing
Conaway responds to allegations
(The Stokes News) - In a surprise move by the Walnut Cove Board of Commissioners Tuesday night, confidential personnel information dealing with the termination of former police chief Barry Conaway has been released to the public.
The commissioners cited North Carolina General Statute 160A-168 as a motion was made by Commissioner Kim Lewis to release the information. She said the reason for the action is “to restore public confidence in this town.” After a few seconds of silence, Commissioner Debbie Cowan seconded the motion, which passed 3-1 with Commissioner Lora Carter voting against the action.
In the Statute, it reads that “the city manager, with concurrence of the council, or, in cities not having a manager, the council may inform any person of the employment or nonemployment, promotion, demotion, suspension or other disciplinary action, reinstatement, transfer, or termination of a city employee and the reasons for that personnel action. Before releasing the information, the manager or council shall determine in writing that the release is essential to maintaining public confidence in the administration of city services or to maintaining the level and quality of city services. This written determination shall be retained in the office of the manager or the city clerk, and is a record available for public inspection and shall become part of the employee's personnel file.”
(The Stokes News) - In a surprise move by the Walnut Cove Board of Commissioners Tuesday night, confidential personnel information dealing with the termination of former police chief Barry Conaway has been released to the public.
The commissioners cited North Carolina General Statute 160A-168 as a motion was made by Commissioner Kim Lewis to release the information. She said the reason for the action is “to restore public confidence in this town.” After a few seconds of silence, Commissioner Debbie Cowan seconded the motion, which passed 3-1 with Commissioner Lora Carter voting against the action.
In the Statute, it reads that “the city manager, with concurrence of the council, or, in cities not having a manager, the council may inform any person of the employment or nonemployment, promotion, demotion, suspension or other disciplinary action, reinstatement, transfer, or termination of a city employee and the reasons for that personnel action. Before releasing the information, the manager or council shall determine in writing that the release is essential to maintaining public confidence in the administration of city services or to maintaining the level and quality of city services. This written determination shall be retained in the office of the manager or the city clerk, and is a record available for public inspection and shall become part of the employee's personnel file.”
posted by BP News Bureau | 7:48 PM
4 Comments:
Good for the town of Walnut Cove to call Barry Conaway's bluff. Nice to see some elected officials with some backbone.
" I think everyone knew deep down that Dearmin had a good reason for firing Conaway. Some of us didn't want to admit it because we've known Barry for so long. I am relieved that the truth is out and we know why Barry was fired. I am upset that he misled us all for two months by saying that there was no reason, and only chose to comment when the Town released information. Barry has fooled us all, and I think many of us resent it. Why did he object to the information being released? Why does his attorney feel that too much information was released? BECAUSE HE DIDN'T WANT ANYBODY TO KNOW. Now, maybe we can move on. The town needs to heal, and we need to find a police chief who won't betray our trust. "
Mr. Conaway was given almost no notice of the Town Manager’s intention to initiate disciplinary action, and little time to respond.
Cry me a freakin' river. This guy is a cop, he's supposed to know the law. When he was exceeding his authority and browbeating this local businessman, did he actually think the town would give him time to get ready for the consequences when they found out about it? Stupid.
These differences of opinion, and minor infractions of administrative procedure could have been handled in a way that allowed the citizens of Walnut Cove to keep their well-liked and well-respected Chief of Police.
I don't call pulling the Boss Hogg act on a local business a "minor infraction." Conaway's lucky he's not in jail, as far as I'm concerned. The well-liked and well-respected part is debatable at best. My own unscientific experience doesn't bear that evaluation out. I've had far more people complain to me about Conaway than have complimented him.
The subsequent concern with and criticism of the Town’s administration could have been avoided had this been handled in a more mature manner.
Nice try at throwing this back on the town. If Conaway had behaved like a grown-up, this might not have gone down like it did, or at all. Instead, he decided to act like some dumb hick town cop with a too big an opinion of his own importance.
And I second what nature boy said. It's nice to see some local elected officials with integrity and guts.
When the Conaway supporters submitted a petition to the town council demanding that Conaway get his job back, the majority of signatures on the petition were from people out-of-town. It appears the people inside the town limits weren't that distressed when Conaway was served his walking papers.
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