GREENWOOD -- The city's parks director has decided to resign, saying the Parks Commission accused her of "blindsiding" them with a potential project.
The commission voted unanimously to accept Tammy Briley's resignation after an executive session during a special meeting Tuesday. Briley's letter of resignation, dated Sept. 21, states this will be effective Oct. 7.
Briley said Tuesday she decided to resign after being accused of not properly communicating with the commission about a project at Greenwood City Lake. She said she put a recommendation for the project "as an FYI" in a report to the City Council for the council's meeting Sept. 12 without the commission approving the project first.
However, Briley said she spoke with Joel Goldstein, commission chairman, about the project before the meeting and believed they were on the same page about it. She also put the project in her report knowing she would have to bring it before the commission for approval.
Briley said she also forgot to reschedule a Trails Committee meeting that was set while she was gone on vacation.
"I think it was just handled wrong, but I'm just moving on," Briley said.
Briley's report to City Council stated she would like to reallocate up to $30,000 from a low-water bridge project at the lake to build a new fishing pier. Briley proposed this could be done as the city continues pursuing a new low-water bridge permit from the Army Corps of Engineers in the following months. The city's previous permit was pulled or revoked due to flooding in June.
"I have already spoken with a contractor that would build the fishing pier, I am waiting on him to get back with me on a quote," Briley wrote.
Goldstein said the Parks Commission felt blindsided by Briley's report due to not being aware about the proposed pier project beforehand. He confirmed Briley stated her interest in doing the project in a discussion they had before the council meeting and that he told her he was fine with it, though he also noted she needed the commission's approval.
Goldstein said the commission discussed the matter in an executive session during the commission's regular meeting Sept. 20. It also talked about Briley's reported lack of attendance at commission subcommittee meetings.
"I discussed it with Ms. Briley, the two items that came out of the executive committee, and she got real huffy," Goldstein said. "She was very indignant to me, and she got up and left."
Goldstein said the commission discussed Briley again during an executive session Sept. 22, though it didn't take any action.
The commission will advertise the city parks director position, as well as contact local universities, to find Briley's replacement, according to Goldstein. However, despite everything, the commission approved proceeding with the fishing pier project Sept. 20.
"The only problem was that I was aware of it, but the commission had not voted on it," Goldstein said.
Mayor Doug Kinslow said Briley has been one of his dear friends for many years and worked as his executive assistant before becoming parks director in May 2019.
"I feel bad for her," Kinslow said. "I think probably the timing of this may be appropriate for her with things going on in her life. I'd hate for her to leave. I think it's a big loss to the city absolutely. As far as how it got to the point of this, I really don't have any comment on that to be honest with you."
Kinslow said he didn't believe Briley intended to circumvent the Parks Commission by not following the correct procedures with the pier project.
Parks director salary
Tammy Briley’s current annual salary as Greenwood’s parks director is $54,610.
Source: Greenwood