By unanimous vote, after a long discussion, the HCSWA board voted to defer consideration of a recommendation to Horry County Council to remove Dan Gray from the HCSWA board until the Thursday December 10, 2015 regular board meeting.
It requires a super majority vote of the seven board members to pass such a recommendation. It was obvious the vote would split 4-3 at best for the board members seeking Gray’s removal. The votes were not there.
Possibly, the HCSWA board is beginning to come to its senses, although I would find that shocking.
We will have more to discuss on this matter prior to that meeting.
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By Paul Gable
Mention the HCSWA board and hubris is generally the first word that pops into my mind.
Hubris is a word that has evolved from ancient Greece. In ancient times it generally referred to violent or abusive behavior that shamed or humiliated the victim for the gratification or pleasure of the abuser.
In more modern times, hubris generally refers to extreme pride or self-confidence associated with a loss of contact with reality and an overestimation of one’s own competence, accomplishments or abilities.
In 21st century America, hubris routinely rears its ugly head in the political arena. One could say it’s the number one reason the federal government in Washington doesn’t work.
We are Horry County. We don’t care how they do it in Washington. So why do we insist on copying them?
Late Monday afternoon, the HCSWA sent out an amended agenda for its 5:30 p.m. board meeting today.
One item was added under new business, “Discussion of Board Member Conduct (Regarding Mr. {Dan} Gray) and Consideration of Recommendation from the Board to Horry County Council of Removal of said Board Member.” (The caps are theirs not mine.)
What are the extreme transgressions of Mr. Gray that prompt such a discussion by the HCSWA board?
His apparently faulty assumption that the 1st Amendment right of free speech applies to him!
According to numerous sources familiar with this planned action, Mr. Gray’s use of emails and other forms of communication to question (criticize?) certain decisions and actions by the HCSWA board and top management officials cannot be tolerated.
Among those decisions and actions questioned by Mr. Gray was the wasting of millions of dollars of public money on lobbyists, lawyers and public relations firms for propaganda associated with a flow control ordinance that Horry County Council chose to amend.
And now I’m told that some members of Horry County Council who voted to amend the flow control ordinance are sympatico with HCSWA board members pushing this board action.
“Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech…” 1st Amendment
What Congress is prohibited from doing, the HCSWA board can, apparently, do with impunity.
What happened to the American tradition, ‘I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it’?
Once again Horry County, or one of its public agencies, is demonstrating why it is the Independent Republic – it is independent of the provisions of the U.S. Constitution.
No individual, especially one representing the interests of the public, may be allowed independent thought or word. That transgression cannot be tolerated in Horry County.
Speak Up…