speakers: patrick h. flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw norwood p. blanchard
DESCRIPTION
SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 [email protected] Norwood P. Blanchard (910) 332-0944 [email protected] Ryan D. Bolick (704) 940-3416 [email protected]. SPEAKERS: Patricia L. Holland (919) 424-8608 [email protected] M. Robin Davis (919) 424-8609 - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
SPEAKERS:
Patrick H. Flanagan(704) [email protected]
Norwood P. Blanchard(910) [email protected]
Ryan D. Bolick(704) [email protected]
SPEAKERS:
Patricia L. Holland(919) [email protected]
M. Robin Davis(919) [email protected]
Ann H. Smith(919) [email protected]
![Page 2: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Hear No EvilSee No Evil Speak
No Evil
Don’t Throw a Monkey Wrench
into Your Political Career!
![Page 3: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Consider Your Role As an Elected Official . . .
![Page 4: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
There are things that are tempting to do as
an elected official, BUT . . .
![Page 5: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
. . . there are often strategy and/or practical reasons why you should
not give in to that temptation.
![Page 6: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
As long as you act within the scope of your duties as an elected official, you
have certain immunity protections.
![Page 7: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
If you exceed your duties as an elected official, you run the risk of personal liability.
![Page 8: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Areas of greatest risk:
1. Involving yourself in personnel matters
2. Talking about personnel matters involving public employees (outside of briefings in closed sessions)
3. Involving yourself in litigation
![Page 9: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Involving yourself in personnel matters (may come back to bite you…)
Statutory duty belongs to City Manager (N.C. Gen. Stat. §160A-148)
Elected officials prohibited from serving or acting as manager or interim manager (N.C. Gen. Stat. § §160A-151 and 160A-147)
![Page 10: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
The office of City Manager is hereby declared to be an office that may be held concurrently with other appointive (but not elective) offices pursuant to Article VI, Sec. 9 of the Constitution.
Oath of office . . . to maintain the Constitution and laws of North Carolina (Article VI, Sec. 7. of North Carolina Constitution)
![Page 11: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
§ 160A‑148. Powers and Duties of Manager
The manager shall be the chief administrator of the city. He shall be responsible to the council for administering all municipal affairs placed in his charge by them, and shall have the following powers and duties:
![Page 12: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
He shall appoint and suspend or remove all city officers and employees not elected by the people, and whose appointment or removal is not otherwise provided for by law, except the city attorney, in accordance with such general personnel rules, regulations, policies, or ordinances as the council may adopt.
![Page 13: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
He shall direct and supervise the administration of all departments, offices, and agencies of the city, subject to the general direction and control of the council, except as otherwise provided by law. (1969, c. 629, s. 2; 1971, c. 698, s. 1; 1973, c. 426, s. 22.)
![Page 14: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Risk of creating inconsistencies
Risk of personal liability
![Page 15: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Talking about personnel matters involving public employees
Violates N.C. Gen. Stat.§160A-168
Can result in protracted litigation against the City and You
Can result in personal liability
![Page 16: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
§ 160A‑168. Privacy of Employee Personnel Records.
Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 132‑6 or any other general law or local act concerning access to public records, personnel files of employees, former employees, or applicants for employment maintained by a city are subject to inspection and may be disclosed only as provided by this section.
![Page 17: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
For purposes of this section, an employee's personnel file consists of any information in any form gathered by the city with respect to that employee and, by way of illustration but not limitation, relating to his application, selection or nonselection, performance, promotions, demotions, transfers, suspension and other disciplinary actions, evaluation forms, leave, salary, and termination of employment. As used in this section, "employee" includes former employees of the city.
![Page 18: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
The following information with respect to each city employee is a matter of public record:
name; age; date of original employment or appointment to the service; the terms of any contract by which the employee is employed whether written or oral, past and current, to the extent that the city has the written contract or a record of the oral contract in its possession; current position title; current salary; date and amount of the most recent increase or decrease in salary; date of the most recent promotion, demotion, transfer, suspension, separation, or other change in position classification; and the office to which the employee is currently assigned.
![Page 19: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
For the purposes of this subsection, the term "salary" includes pay, benefits, incentives, bonuses, and deferred and all other forms of compensation paid by the employing entity.
![Page 20: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
A city employee having supervisory authority over the employee may examine all material in the employee's personnel file.
![Page 21: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
A public official or employee who knowingly, willfully, and with malice permits any person to have access to information contained in a personnel file, except as is permitted by this section, is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and upon conviction shall only be fined an amount not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00).
![Page 22: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Any person, not specifically authorized by this section to have access to a personnel file designated as confidential, who shall knowingly and willfully examine in its official filing place, remove or copy any portion of a confidential personnel file shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and upon conviction shall only be fined in the discretion of the court but not in excess of five hundred dollars ($500.00). (1975, c. 701, s. 2; 1981, c. 926, ss. 1‑4; 1993, c. 539, ss. 1084, 1085; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2007‑508, s. 7.)
![Page 23: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
The Slippery Slope of Public Statements
![Page 24: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Statements outside of 160A-168 give rise to other claims
Defamation (personal liability) Liberty Interest Claims (Municipal Liability) Blacklisting Interference with Contract Other Tort Claims
![Page 25: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
BUT . . . there are ways to release private personnel information
of public employees --if done the right way!
![Page 26: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
An employee may sign a written release, to be placed with his personnel file, that permits the person with custody of the file to provide, either in person, by telephone, or by mail, information specified in the release to prospective employers, educational institutions, or other persons specified in the release.
![Page 27: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
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.
![Page 28: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
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.
![Page 29: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Involving yourself in litigation
Risk of destroying attorney-client privilege
Risk of inconsistent treatment of employees
Risk of personal liability to YOU
![Page 30: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
Hypotheticals
1. The Temptation to “Do Good”
2. The Sympathetic Mayor
3. The At Will Employer
4. The “CEO”
![Page 31: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Questions?
![Page 32: SPEAKERS: Patrick H. Flanagan (704) 940-3419 pflanagan@cshlaw Norwood P. Blanchard](https://reader034.vdocuments.us/reader034/viewer/2022051416/56813c6e550346895da5feb2/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
SPEAKERS:
Patricia L. Holland(919) [email protected]
M. Robin Davis(919) [email protected]
Ann H. Smith(919) [email protected]
SPEAKERS:
Patrick H. Flanagan(704) [email protected]
Norwood P. Blanchard(910) [email protected]
Ryan D. Bolick(704) [email protected]