Commissioners,

BlackwaterReports has meticulously compiled a detailed timeline based on records released by the county, Bob White’s publicly posted statement, and Megan Morgan’s two conflicting statements to the media. We have held private meetings with several of you to review the 43 (now number over 50) verified facts found in public records. None of these facts support the necessity of tomorrow night’s meeting. Despite this, we are left questioning why so many immediately assumed that Commissioner Beaumont authorized the posting of the County Manager’s job online. It seems rather peculiar that instead of adhering to the County Code of Ethics, Beaumont was swiftly judged, condemned, and faced impending punishment for over a week before Morgan even initiated a fact-finding process.

However, my primary inquiry is this: how were all of you so readily willing to believe that InsightGlobal didn’t make an error, and instead jumped to the conclusion that it must have been Beaumont?

Let’s examine a few facts about Gabi Gilbert, InsightGlobal, Account Manager:

Gilbert, a 23-year-old with only 10 months of professional experience, hails from Dare County, situated in Currituck’s vicinity, and graduated from East Carolina University with a BA in anthropology. According to her LinkedIn profile, she briefly served as an Ocean Rescue Guard with Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service and subsequently worked as a Client Support Analyst at ADP for three months before joining InsightGlobal as an Account Manager eleven months ago.

It’s baffling that Gilbert, with her limited experience, is assumed to have not inadvertently posted the job description, while Beaumont, with decades of experience working with recruiting firms, is assumed to have erred. Each of you has, over the past several weeks, violated the county code of ethics. Bob White, in particular, has violated them all. In the proposed censure under consideration, published on the county website and, therefore, an official document, White alleges that Beaumont lied to the Daily Advance about McRee’s contract, a false official statement, and an ethics violation. Adding to the confusion, Morgan initially gave a statement on behalf of the county, asserting that Beaumont’s statements to the Advance were false and stating she confirmed this with McRee. However, a week later, Morgan reversed course, informing the Pilot that Beaumont’s statements were indeed true and even naming those involved in delivering notice to McRee. This suggests that the Chair and County Manager allowed Morgan to provide false information to the media, another clear ethics violation. Unfortunately, the team handling the complaint to the NC Bar regarding Morgan’s numerous ethics violations has struggled to file due to the ever-increasing number of complaints. It’s worth reminding you all that Morgan’s sole responsibility was to prevent the county from being embroiled in this issue. Yet, on January 16, 2024, at 8:30 am, Morgan notified that she had drafted a letter of censure without being asked by the Board, in quorum, to do so. Instead of advising the board to terminate the online meeting and acknowledging the conflict of interest posed by Beaumont as a sitting commissioner, she became entangled in the controversy.

The most prudent course of action for Thursday night would be for a brave member of the board to motion for the entire matter to be referred to Jeff Cruden in the District Attorney’s office, as provided by statute. Cruden can then request the involvement of the SBI, the agency mandated by statute to investigate public corruption and breaches of public trust in government. I would remind you of the precedent set in referring the Register of Deeds to the District Attorney. In closing, I would like to urge four of you to motion, second, and vote to refer this matter to the District Attorney. And lastly, I have several first-hand accounts that a number of employees will quit if you don’t vote to censure Beaumont. No organization or government can operate in the best interest of its citizens under such an outlandish threat by employees. The phrase “the prisoners are running the prison,” comes to mind.