EDC ex-head cited health reasons for leavingBy Andy Paras (Contact)
The Post and Courier
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Patsy Gardner Previous storiesPublic assistance program to resume, published 08/26/08 Troubles leave payroll in doubt; Board chief said he was trying to make sure Economic Development Corp. workers got paid, published 08/23/08 EDC out of state money; Agency aids low-income citizens with energy bills, published 08/20/08 Head Start: Broke by October? Parents, board members upset with leadership, published 08/08/08 Head Start issues simmer, published 07/31/08 Head Start chief to vacate post, published 07/30/08 MONCKS CORNER — Patsy Gardner, the former Berkeley-Dorchester Counties Economic Development Corp. director who abruptly resigned last month before it was reported that the agency had a $1.2 million deficit, wrote in her resignation letter that she left because of "health reasons." An attorney for the Economic Development Corp. gave a copy of the letter to a Post and Courier attorney late Monday, nearly a month after the newspaper requested the document July 29 under the S.C. Freedom of Information Act and five days past the legal limit. The corporation originally denied the request for the letter for personnel reasons. The letter, dated July 27, says little else about why Gardner left, though it tells the board to "Please let me know if I can assist the agency during the transition period." EDC Board Chairman Levy Berry said during a public meeting Aug. 6 that the board asked Gardner to resign July 27 "after we had concrete evidence" of problems, including a mounting deficit. "The board was not given accurate information and was kept out of the loop on several things," he said. The state Office of Economic Opportunity released a report Aug. 4 that portrayed an agency that co-mingled state and federal funds, didn't follow correct procedures, maintained poor records and issued large checks to EDC employees without justification. The report has been referred to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office for a possible criminal investigation. Among those employees was Gardner, according to copies of canceled checks. Seven unexplained checks totaling $56,368.13 were made payable to Gardner from Dec. 15, 2005, until Oct. 12, 2007. Six of the seven were written between May and October 2007. The checks ranged from $5,000 to $11,057.69. Gardner could not be reached for comment Tuesday. She has not spoken to The Post and Courier since July 28, when she denied reports that she had resigned. The Economic Development Corp. confirmed her resignation a day later. Reach Andy Paras at 745-5891 or aparas@postandcourier.com. |
Article tools |
|
Notice about comments: Charleston.net is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. Charleston.net does not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not charleston.net. If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "suggest removal" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Full terms and conditions can be read here. |
Comments
This article has 19 comment(s)
Posted by sethook on August 27, 2008 at 1:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is this another case of not paying good people enough to keep them. Or, just another case of someone inflating their self worth and paying for it via unauthorized checks? Who's suppose to be auditing these agancies? Who authorized the "help yourself" payroll process?
Posted by eatmorecollards on August 27, 2008 at 3:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sure the thought of going to jail would make most anyone sick.
Posted by WhoCares on August 27, 2008 at 6:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
hmmmm... I thought she resigned to join Obama's campaign staff.
Posted by moonpie on August 27, 2008 at 6:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ah thats great.
Day 2 of the democratic convention and the P&C has neary a story. Either they consider it un news worthy or offering no platform for a discussion??
Sounds like she stole enough money to make her well again. She offered to take more and train the next thief if they needed by "helping through the transition"!
Posted by sig on August 27, 2008 at 6:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just more Fraud, Waste and Abuse. This will be covered up just like all the others. No government agency has ever made a clean sweep of there employees. Start with DHHS first and get rid of the top and second tier management. There is more fraud with this agency than any other
Report Fraud to any government agency and you will receive nothing but lip service.
Posted by ironhorse on August 27, 2008 at 7:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Was there a typo in this article? I thought she resigned due to "wealth" issues.
Posted by DoaMM on August 27, 2008 at 7:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You figure that with a "healthy wealthy" issue, she'd be able to hire someone to take care of that double chin.
It's corruption, plain and simple. End of story.
Posted by jeff61 on August 27, 2008 at 7:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Healthy enough to go on "vaction" and conference to the beach on tax payers dime.
Posted by Tammie on August 27, 2008 at 8:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"The letter, dated July 27, says little else about why Gardner left, though it tells the board to "Please let me know if I can assist the agency during the transition period.""
Yeah, give those people their money back you greedy cuss word.
Posted by jeff61 on August 27, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Her leaving does not releive her of any criminal activity that may have taken place. If funds were mis used and an investigation shows this,, people would be indicted I would think.
Posted by RTC on August 27, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
People facing possible criminal charges always use the "health reasons" excuse when they resign. It has become such a redundant excuse that I'm surprised that it is still accepted.
Ms. Gardner originally denied that she had resigned, then she changed her story. Checks made payable to her that are not accounted for? She didn't do a very good job of covering her tracks.
Posted by drp7773 on August 27, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Garbage in and garbage out....This is what happens by picking candidates for these jobs not on experience, but on race and gender. Are we really surprised? Hand them the money and walk away, come back in a year and say what!!!!!! where's the money? Pathetic.
Posted by Yeah_I_said_it on August 27, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Al "fat ass" Parish got sick right before it was time to go to jail. Cousin Arthur Ravenell got ill right before it was time for him to face the school board for his "bitch" comment. People fake illnesses all the time to try to get off. Sad, so sad. She need to give us our money back, that will alleviate some of her health issues!
Posted by poor_paul on August 27, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
She's innocent until proven guilty. We'll have a fair trial followed by a first class hanging...
Unfortunately, they should have had internal controls that would limit the opportunity for somebody to write themselves checks. One person controls the checks, another reconciles the bank accounts, etc. I just can't understand why people think they can get away with theft, if that is what really happened.
Posted by tc1 on August 27, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
poor_paul,
Because a lot of them do. See other stories as what happens if they do get caught.:(
Posted by singleroni on August 27, 2008 at noon (Suggest removal)
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/100/sto...
CHECK THIS OUT AND SEE WHERE ALL OF OUR CHARITY MONEY GOES. - NO CONTROL OVER ANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE BOARDS APPROVE THE MONEY BEING SPENT.
Posted by bigwhip on August 27, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey single, I quit giving money to UW a few years back for reasons like the article in the CO has put out there. I give to selected charities that I have a fundamental understanding of their money handling and feel that management has a sense of morality and ethic. As for Patsy Gardner, I doubt there will be an investigation and if there is one it will be inconclusive with no one convicted. As I said before, it appears that theses programs are designed so that financial abuse can be promoted. It is a charity isn't it?
Posted by madeaboutit on August 27, 2008 at 8:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
HEY YOU ALL! Don't forget. Gardner was not alone. Of course she is going to cry that sick sh@#. But, we all know the real reason. The Bitch and her Posse spent the money...bottom line. Vehicles were brought, parties were thrown, houses were brought and renovated,etc.
Bigwhip for your comment. SOMEBODY "GOTTS" TO GO DOWN ON THIS. This will make an example.
If the FBI doesn't crack this case. I will bring it to the Supreme Court myself.
Posted by just1reader on August 27, 2008 at 11:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
She was shoved out of DSS prior to this.....need anyone say more?