Planning director dismissed
Tyndall questioned proposed appointment
MONCKS CORNER — One of the first hires in Berkeley County Supervisor Dan Davis' shuffled administration has been fired.
Planning Director Jeff Tyndall lost his job because he didn't obey orders to stay out of a proposed planning board appointment, Davis said.
Tyndall did not deny that.
"I was not doing it maliciously. I was doing it to protect the planning board and its members. Dan didn't want to hear what I had to say, and I was terminated," Tyndall said.
"I wasn't the first planning director to be fired for political reasons, and I won't be the last. It's a tough job in that sense."
Tyndall became the latest in a series of administrative officials to leave or lose their jobs since Davis was elected in 2006. Tyndall was hired in April 2007. He replaced Madelyn Robinson, who resigned the day before Davis took office.
Tyndall was fired after he questioned a proposal by Bob Call, who is running unopposed for a County Council seat in the November election, to appoint a developer to the county planning board.
After being told by Davis not to get involved, Tyndall asked a State Ethics Commission staff member if there were concerns with the appointment.
He was told the appointee would have to sign a form acknowledging he would recuse himself, or not vote, in cases of conflict of interest. Tyndall was fired after a conversation with Davis about that.
"I told him not to do it. I felt that should have been the end of it. He disobeyed that," Davis said. "It's generally regarded that you (want to) have a cross-section of people on the board. It's everyone's constitutional right to take part in the process. You need developers' opinions. You need citizens' opinions."
Davis also forced former economic development director John Scarborough to resign this year over a disagreement with a developer.
Call said he sent Tyndall an e-mail asking him to help advise the developer about the post. He said if Tyndall had concerns he should have taken them to Davis. The appointment can't be made until after Call takes his seat; council would have to vote approval.
"It's a political decision and he shouldn't be involved in the political parts of it," Call said. "A planning director has no business calling up and spreading a good citizen's name around the Ethics Commission."
Councilman Dennis Fish said he thought it was inappropriate for Call to contact Tyndall about the appointment before being elected, but "If (Tyndall) violated county policy, that's Dan's prerogative (to fire him)."
Councilman Bill Crosby, whom Call will replace on council, said, "I don't believe in putting developers on planning boards. I think that's the wrong place for them, making zoning decisions." Crosby said he didn't think the firing was over a single incident and wanted more details on it. "We'll be looking into that at our next meeting."
County engineer Frank Carson will replace Tyndall as an interim director, Davis said. Carson also took on the interim job after Robinson resigned.
Tyndall's departure comes as the county grapples with a moratorium on large-scale and sometimes controversial new developments and revises its comprehensive plan. It also has a senior planner position vacant in the department. But the housing slowdown and the downturn in the economy have taken the heat off the work, Davis said.
"It's not as busy as it was, certainly not as busy as it was a year ago," he said.
Andy Paras contributed to this report. Reach Bo Petersen at 745-5852 or bpetersen@postandcourier.com.
E-mail this story 
Printer-friendly version
Notice about comments:
The Post and Courier is pleased to offer readers the ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. The Post and Courier 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 postandcourier.com. 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 Web site.
Full terms and conditions can be read here.
Comments
This article has 11 comment(s)
Posted by sig on October 1, 2008 at 5:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well the citizens of Berkeley County voted Davis in. I did not vote for him and we need to vote him out.
Our HOA has been dealing with him for 10 months now and he does not have a clue! Letters went unanswered. Face to face meetings with him have been unproductive. He will tell you one thing and has never followed up with the action to be taken.
But we have to live with him until election time!
Posted by WhoCares on October 1, 2008 at 6:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You disobey the boss... (Guess What???) ...You get fired!! I don't see anything newsworthy about this article other than the fact that Supervisor Davis has the guts to fire a disloyal subordinate. Good on you Mr. Davis!!!
Posted by nimby on October 1, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's see:
Isn't a developer on the planning commission a bit like the fox guarding the hen house?
Since Call has not been elected yet, why is he submitting prospective appointees?
Is it OK to fire county employees who are trying to be true to thier job and protect the taxpayers?
Is there some coincedence that Davis has fired two respected employees that deal directly with developers?
Other than that, no problem!!
Posted by hillbilly on October 1, 2008 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The people of Berk.Co. got exactly what they asked for.
I know Jim Rosier is happy to be otta there.
Posted by UrGatorbait on October 1, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great logic Nimby, lost to some as usual.
I didn't vote for Davis either, next election, see ya.
Posted by blunt on October 1, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Davis' action doesn't show "guts", it shows management ignorance and stupidness! Directing his (our) Planning Director to stay out of a proposed planning board appointment is the opposite of great "leadership". I think Mr. Tyndall did complete staff work by contacting the Ethics Commission for advice. Obviously, Davis was unable (not qualified/knowledgeable) to "lead" Mr. Tyndall by advising him with the information provided by the Ethics Commission. In fact, the information Mr. Tyndall gathered and shared with Davis would have prepared him for any questions/challenges presented by anyone concerned about the appointment or lack of appointment of Mr. Call's friend. You must understand that Call and Davis are friends. Need I say more! Working under direct supervision of Davis must be a horrible environment. I pray for his employees.
Posted by 6palm04 on October 1, 2008 at noon (Suggest removal)
I smell a rat...the P&C should investigate this administration and speak to former staff to get the "real" story. Also explore how the seemingly "conflict of interest" in wanting to appoint a developer to the planning board might benefit Dan Davis and Bob Call personally. To fire a Director living up to his primary obligation to protect the public interest is ludicrous and reeks of self-serving political scheming by Davis. Blind obedience regardless of ethical implications, not civic duty, is what is required to be part of the Davis administration. Will nothing ever change in our political landscape?
Posted by bigwhip on October 1, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The emperor has arrived! It is "pins & needles" time in Berkeley County.
Posted by ProudNative on October 1, 2008 at 1:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dan Davis didn't get my vote. Hopefully he will be gone come next election.
Posted by jeff61 on October 1, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Can people like this be recalled???
Posted by richcor on October 1, 2008 at 6:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I was not aware that Call and Davis are buddies. It makes sense, however. They are both gutless persons who think that rules, laws, and ethics are for everyone else. This was known about Davis before he even campaigned for this position. Our illustrious Berkeley County voters chose to ignore this. So, as said at least once already, you deserve what you get.