Horry County Council voted 9 to 2 tonight to terminate the employment of Chris Eldridge, former Horry County Administrator.
County Chairman Johnny Gardner abstained from the vote.
Eldridge was believed to be a divisive element in county government working to smear Chairman Gardner on his inauguration day last December 20th.
Gardner stated publicly that he would not work with Eldridge. The details of Eldridge’s severance package were not made public at the Horry County Council meeting.
separation agreement released to press
According to MyHorryNews, not providing a separation agreement between Eldridge and Horry County would be a violation of state law, said Jay Bender, an attorney and expert on the state’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
“There’s no legal justification for withholding that contract,” he said.
Bender pointed out that state law is clear on this issue.
“The county cannot by contract avoid the requirement that the contract and payments made pursuant to are public records subject to mandatory disclosure,” he said.
Despite the county’s initial objection to releasing the Eldridge document, Myhorrynews.com reported the financial details on Tuesday, including that Eldridge would receive 15 months’ worth of compensation and a year of health insurance.
The contract reflects that reporting.
The administrator’s final salary was $217,599.86 and he also received a car allowance of about $10,000 per year.
Under the separation agreement, Eldridge’s resignation is technically not effective for one year but he is not allowed to perform any of the administrator’s job duties or present himself as a representative of Horry County Government. He also had to turn over all county property.
Eldridge will receive bi-weekly compensation for a year and county benefits, including health insurance and his car allowance. He will also be paid for the vacation time he has accumulated.
Although the regular pay and benefits continue for a year, the county will divide the equivalent of three months of the administrator’s salary and make two payments: one to his lawyer and another to the state retirement system on Eldridge’s behalf.