CALLISON ill TIGHE ‘September 12, 2016 Via Email Only sarett Taylor ‘Administrator ‘Town of Latta, South Carolina RE: Police Chief Crystal Moore v. Town of Latta, SC, et al. Our File No.: 14587.005 Dear Mr. Taylor: On September 8, 2016, following a Town Council meeting, you presented Chief Moore a statement signed by you, as Town Administrator, below the inscription "The Latta Town Counei” which purports to terminate Chief Moore from her position with the Town. This event came as a surprise, given that you told the New. York Times on ‘September 2" that the Town and Chief Moore were back on good terms after she served her suspension. The only intervening event between September 2 and the meeting on September & was my letter of September 7 advising the Council of Chief ‘Moore's legal rights and requesting that no further retaliation be inflicted upon her. ‘Apparently, the letter caused you and the council members to do exactly as | cautioned you to avoid have leamed over the weekend that Counci failed to vote in open session on ‘September 8 to terminate Chief Moore's employment, Therefore, Crystal Moore stil hholds the position of Chief of Police of Latta, South Carolina. As you know, the lav prohibits public bodies from taking any action in executive session except to (a) adjourn ‘or (b) return to public session. The members of a public body may not even be polled or take an informal vote regarding a course of action while in executive session. S.C. Code Ann. §30-4-70(b). All decisions must be made by public vote, and the vote of all Individual members must be recorded in the minutes. As a courtesy to the Town, and to ensure orderly transition, I did not suggest that Chief Moore return fo work unannounced. Therefore, | am writing to notify you that she is, and has been, ready and able to retum to work. We will expect her full pay and benefits to continue as though she has been on leave with pay, She was involuntarily ‘ordered not to come to work, 80 there should be no deduction from her accrued annual ‘or sick leave, Please advise when you want her to return to work.Letter to Mr. Taylor September 12, 2016 Page Two Please respond at your earliest convenience to me or directly to Chief Moore ‘We look forward to hearing from you With best regards, Sincerely, NM Matesie Querstlte ” M.Malissa Burnette co: Chief Crystal Moore ‘Town Council Members