The State Ethics Commisssion has determined that there is probable cause to support allegations in a complaint against Williamston Town Administrator Phyllis Lollis.
A notice of hearing sent to the town cites four possible violations that will be heard in a formal hearing before the State Ethics Commission at 12:30 p.m on May 15 in Columbia. The allegations include two counts for use of official office for gain and two counts for participation in a governmental decision.
According to the Notice of Hearing sent to the Town of Williamston and obtained under a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by The Journal, Lollis knowingly used her official employment as the town’s administrator to obtain an economic interest for a family member, her son, by requesting an increase in pay from forty hours to forty-two hours when her son attended the Criminal Justice Academy as a police trainee for Williamston.
The second count states Lollis used her office to obtain an economic interest for a family member when she influenced the town treasurer to increase her son’s compensation from forty hours to forty-two hours while her son attended the Criminal Justice Academy as a police trainee.
The third count states Lollis used her official employment as the town’s administrator to obtain an economic interest for a family member, her son, by requesting a one-time bonus of $500 be paid to her son upon his completion of the Criminal Justice Academy.
The fourth count states Lollis used her office to obtain an economic interest for a family member when she influenced the town’s police chief to give her son the $500 bonus upon his completion of the Criminal Justice Academy.
The May 15 hearing will be held in Executive Session unless Lollis requests an open hearing.
The hearing will be held in Suite 250, at 5000 Thurmond Mall, The Pavillion, in Columbia.
