Senator blasts wildlife board chief

The chairwoman of South Carolina’s wildlife agency board misled long-time department director John Frampton into thinking the entire board wanted him to quit – when she had not discussed his departure with some members, a memo released Tuesday says.

Caroline Rhodes, who heads the Department of Natural Resources board, “erroneously represented” to Frampton that the board supported her in discussing his retirement, according to the memo from a senator whose committee investigated Frampton’s leaving.

Frampton, agency director since 2003, announced his retirement in October after talking with Rhodes. But DNR board members John Evans and Norman Pulliam were not consulted, Sen. Ronnie Cromer’s memo says.

Evans and Pulliam – both Frampton boosters – ripped Rhodes in an unusually heated public meeting last month, complaining that they were left out of the loop.

“It does appear there was a calculated decision made not to bring Mr. Evans and Mr. Pulliam into the conversation until after director Frampton was asked to resign,” according to the memo from Cromer to fellow committee members, which was obtained by The State newspaper. “I lay the responsibility for this activity squarely at the feet of Chairwoman Rhodes.”

The Senate Fish Game and Forestry Committee, which Cromer chairs, meets WednesdayÖ morning to discuss a committee report on the circumstances surrounding Frampton’s decision to retire. Frampton spent 37 years with the wildlife and marine resources agency, the last eight as director. He is widely praised for gaining federal and private dollars to protect open land in South Carolina. The DNR regulates hunting and fishing, oversees public land, patrols lakes and conducts marine research.

Gov. Nikki Haley elevated Rhodes to the board’s top position after Haley took office in January 2011. The governor’s office has been pushing a more business-friendly agenda, and some worry the DNR could be hurt by a new director and a Haley-chosen board. Rhodes never said why Frampton was asked about leaving.

“Any criticism that has been doled out to me as chairman, I have to accept it and it is duly noted,” Rhodes told The State on Tuesday. Asked if she disputed any facts in Cromer’s letter, Rhodes said “it really doesn’t matter. We’re going to move forward. This isn’t about me.”

Cromer’s letter said the DNR board did not break the state’s open records law by holding a secret meeting – as had been suggested – but it says Rhodes had individual discussions with four of the six other board members about Frampton.

The Senate committee’s probe was based on telephone records, DNR emails and conversations with board members, Frampton and Rhodes. Cromer’s letter said he does not see the need for further investigation, but it said he is disappointed in the chairwoman.

“Rhodes has done herself, her fellow board members, the Department of Natural Resources and the state of South Carolina a great disservice in the way she chose to handle matters related to the retirement of SCDNR director John Frampton,” the letter said.

This story was originally published January 24, 2012 at 4:01 PM with the headline "Senator blasts wildlife board chief."