PETITION TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF BENNETTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA

REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION, FULL FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE, AND CONSIDERATION OF TERMINATION OF THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR

To the Honorable Mayor and Members of the Bennettsville City Council:
We, the undersigned citizens, residents, taxpayers, and concerned members of the Bennettsville community, respectfully submit this petition requesting that City Council immediately investigate serious concerns involving the City Administrator and, if those concerns are substantiated, take appropriate action up to and including termination of employment.
Our request is based on concerns involving possible violations of the City Administrator’s employment contract, alleged dual employment, questions concerning the use of the City credit card, delays in making credit-card statements available for public review, and additional financial matters that we believe require a complete and transparent accounting.

1. POSSIBLE CONTRACT VIOLATION AND DUAL EMPLOYMENT
Citizens are requesting that City Council determine whether the City Administrator has engaged in outside or dual employment and, if so, whether that employment is permitted under his employment contract and applicable City policies.
We request that Council publicly identify the applicable contractual provisions, determine whether they have been complied with, and disclose the findings to the public.

2. CITY CREDIT-CARD EXPENDITURES
Public money must be handled with the highest level of accountability.
Questions have been raised regarding expenditures made using a City credit card. We request an independent and comprehensive review of the relevant credit-card transactions, receipts, invoices, authorizations, business purposes, reimbursements, and supporting documentation.
Any expenditure determined to be unauthorized, inadequately documented, personal, or otherwise contrary to City policy should be addressed through the appropriate administrative or legal process.

3. CREDIT-CARD STATEMENTS AND PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY
Citizens have also raised concerns that City credit-card statements have not been reposted or updated online for public review for approximately three weeks.
The citizens of Bennettsville should not have to repeatedly demand access to basic information concerning the expenditure of public funds.
We request that all credit-card statements and other financial records that are legally subject to public disclosure be made readily available and kept current, with any information legally exempt from disclosure appropriately redacted.

4. ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL CONCERNS
We further request a comprehensive review of other financial matters involving the City Administrator’s office where questions have been raised regarding expenditures, authorization, documentation, procurement, reimbursements, contracts, or the handling of public funds.
This review should determine whether all expenditures complied with City policies, contractual requirements, applicable ordinances, and state and federal law.
5. REQUEST FOR INDEPENDENT REVIEW
To protect the integrity of the process and restore public confidence, we request that City Council authorize an independent financial and administrative review of these matters.
The findings should be presented publicly to the extent permitted by law so that citizens can see the evidence and understand the basis for Council’s ultimate decision.
OUR REQUEST TO CITY COUNCIL
We, the undersigned, respectfully request that the Mayor and Bennettsville City Council:
 1 Immediately investigate the concerns described in this petition;
 2 Review the City Administrator’s employment contract and any provisions governing outside or dual employment;
 3 Conduct a complete review of City credit-card expenditures and supporting documentation;
 4 Restore and maintain timely public access to financial records that are subject to disclosure;
 5 Order an independent review of the financial matters identified by citizens;
 6 Require a public accounting of the findings to the extent permitted by law; and
 7 If the investigation establishes material violations of the City Administrator’s contract, City financial policies, or other applicable requirements, take appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination.
Public office and public employment are positions of trust. Bennettsville citizens are entitled to transparency, accountability, responsible stewardship of taxpayer money, and compliance with the rules governing City officials and employees.
We therefore submit this petition requesting immediate action by the Bennettsville City Council.