This story was broken exclusively by BlackwaterReports.org

Commissioner Paul Beaumont has become the focal point of the most significant controversy involving a sitting commissioner in Currituck’s history. Our report, released on January 27, 2024, based on over 160 county emails, uncovered evidence of commissioners deciding the fate of County Manager Ike McRee. A crucial email from Board Chair Bob White at 9:50 am on January 15, 2023, accused Beaumont of revealing decisions about McRee to Chief Ralph “Chip” Melton, head of county emergency medical services.

Despite County Attorney Megan Morgan’s denial of a vote and notice to McRee, we obtained exclusive documentation from Beaumont, validating his account. The Daily Advance initially published the story, later retracting it and casting doubt on Beaumont’s credibility. Commissioner Kevin McCord confirmed the meeting, vote, and notice to McRee on the evening of January 31, 2024.

In an exclusive release to Blackwater Reports, Beaumont provided additional documentation, seeking legal opinion from Assistant Professor of Public Law and Government Kristina Wilson. Wilson highlighted G.S. 153A-98(b)(9), emphasizing that the date and type of each change in position within the county are public information. See the document, which has performance concerns redacted here. The document was contained in an email from White addressed to all commissioners.

Unraveling the Controversy: A Timeline of County Manager McRee’s Contract and the InsightGlobal Job Posting

In October 2023, the Board of Commissioners voted against renewing County Manager Ike McRee’s contract. This led to a private meeting between McRee, Chair Bob White, and Vice Chair Selina Jarvis, where they delivered the notice of non-retention. The UNC School of Government (SOG) has indicated that the notice ended the privilege of a closed meeting, making related minutes public records.

Despite the decision, Commissioner Beaumont, seeking information on a potential replacement, queried InsightGlobal about a search for a new county manager. Beaumont denies having a contract with InsightGlobal or authorizing the job posting, yet the position was live on the World Wide Web, sparking questions about the sequence of events. This timeline sheds light on the unfolding controversy surrounding McRee’s contract and the subsequent developments.

Discrepancies in InsightGlobal’s Statements Raise Questions About Job Posting Status

In a recent text message exchange dated around January 14, 2024, between Commissioner Beaumont and InsightGlobal, the latter claimed that the job advertisement “is not live; it’s in a closed state.” BlackwaterReports contacted Megan Quinn, Associate General Counsel at InsightGlobal, seeking clarification. Specifically, we inquired about the assertion made on January 14 and the fact that the posting remains active on their website as of February 1, 2024. Quinn declined to comment, leaving unanswered questions about the status of the job posting.

Contradictions Unveiled: County Attorney’s Denial Raises Questions

County Attorney Megan Morgan recently denied the accuracy of Commissioner Beaumont’s public statements about the non-renewal of County Manager McRee’s contract. Morgan asserted that her information was verified with McRee, adding a layer of credibility to her claims. Morgan categorically stated there was no vote, and notice was not served on McRee. However, she also disclosed that she wasn’t present at all the meetings, raising a lingering question: Was Morgan set up to provide a potentially false and misleading statement to the press? The contradictions in her assertions add complexity to the unfolding narrative. This stain on Currituck County’s seat of government was avoidable and should have been preempted by the county manager and attorney.