Beaufort County Deputy Administrator resigns and leaves council with pointed advice

Beaufort County’s Interim Deputy Administrator submitted her letter of resignation to the County Council Thursday. With it, she gave the council guidance on how to get the ship sailing in the right direction again.

Denise Christmas was appointed Interim Deputy Administrator in September. She replaced Whitney Richland, who left the county amid questions about whether she and her former boss, Eric Greenway, conspired to use taxpayer money to buy nearly $36,000 worth of weighted blankets from a company owned by Richland’s husband.

Since then, Christmas has been quietly at the side of Interim Administrator John Robinson at every county council meeting.

Her resignation

Notably different from most resignation letters, Christmas left the council with three suggestions on what sort of personnel the county should be looking to hire. The tone of her letter was gracious and deferential but it carried more than a hint of criticism of the recent history of three of the county’s highest profile departments.

The county attorney’s office

First on Christmas’ list was the county’s attorneys.

“My county attorneys would be tasked each with very separate, specific tasks, and I would contract with a main attorney who has years of county government experience - one who knew county and state law quite well, off the top of their head, without having to do much research,” Christmas wrote. “There are plenty out there and willing to contract with you all. I would have just that attorney at my council meetings, and not all of them.”

Questions have been swirling about the county’s attorneys since the county’s controversies began last year. In February, the County Council received an anonymous email that called into question the qualifications and competence of the current team.

The county administrator

Second, Christmas noted qualities that make for a good administrator.

“An experienced, ethical county administrator who respects council, respects his/her staff and the work they do is very important. This administrator would be versed in all areas of local government, particularly with state statutes and the effects on county government,” Christmas wrote

The county administrator position has been in the public eye for the better part of a year now. The previous administrator, Eric Greenway, was terminated on July 28 for cause. At a hearing requested by the former administrator to contest the action, Chairman Passiment cited Greenway’s failure to follow the statutes on hiring outside contractors, his relationship with a former contractor turned employee and his disregard for the county’s procurement process as the reasons for his termination. The former employee accused Greenway of sexual harassment and retaliation.

A series of other questionable actions came to light in the wake of the Greenway firing including a mysterious purchase of nearly $36,000 worth of weighted blankets, reportedly from a company owned by then Deputy Administrator Whitney Richland’s husband. It was later discovered that the county was in possession of the blankets, which were all still boxed and on the floor in a county warehouse. Officials had previously denied that the county ever took possession of the order.

The finance officer

Finally, being the former Financing Director, Christmas stressed the importance of financially literate staff.

“Since the heart of every county government is money (and politics), I would hire an experienced CFO who meshes well with everyone, but most importantly with you all. I would not contract this position out. This position is a specialty position and requires more than just a body who knows accounting. This person must know governmental accounting and how county government works - they should be required to have county, municipal, or state government finance experience,” she wrote.

With Christmas stressing the importance of an experienced CFO, it’s notable that Greenway and his legal team often point to his inexperience in finances.

“Mr. Greenway was not and is not an expert in procurement law or purchasing guidelines,” Greenways’ attorney wrote in a recent email. “He was hired for his expertise in other areas—and, as we all know, no county administrator, no matter how tenured and experienced, can be an expert in all facets of government.”

And in a September hearing, Greenway’s team argued “He (Greenway) did not claim to have knowledge of procurement and finance,” when he accepted the County Administrator position.

“I believe that those three experienced staff members will make a huge difference in Beaufort County,” she concluded.

Her final thoughts

Christmas gave one final piece of advice at the end of the letter. “Also, please remember during budget time, that you are not obligated to approve the elected officials’ budgets as they have submitted them. I encourage you all to negotiate them and ask your CFO what their recommendations are- because they know more than anyone in your organization how much you all have available in resources,” she said, possibly referring to Treasurer Maria Walls, who has been at odds with the council for not accepting her budget proposal in the past.

Christmas has been with Beaufort County since 2021. Her last day will be June 7.

Christmas did not return phone calls asking for comment.