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Council/PEDC Meeting September 15, 2014 Page 11 transparency and inquired what was the best thing they could do. Mr. Moore reported the best way to handle this was to have written agreements and once executed, they become public. He also said that the meetings were subject to the Open Meetings Act, and that transparency helps. Council Member Lancaster questioned accountability and stated it looked like they had lost a lot of money and no one was going to be responsible for it. Mr. Moore said as they move forward, they tighten up the policies and that would address those issues. Council Member Lancaster said she had a hard time moving forward past $35 million dollars, that was a lot of money, and that she was not a rich person. Mayor Frierson reiterated that Mr. Moore addressed the fact that they want success every time, but in the economic development arena you bat one in a thousand. He said they need to tighten up the contracts, make sure the fallbacks are built in and make sure performance appraisals are done, and make sure employees are being held accountable for their actions. Mayor Frierson said outside of that, there were not many other choices. A Motion that the PEDC recommend to the City Council that no further action be taken in this matter was made by Mr. Brockman. Mr. Wilson seconded the Motion and asked for additional discussion. Mr. Grubbs asked Mr. Brockman if he wanted to table that motion for the time being and then come back to it. Mr. Brockman temporarily withdrew the Motion. Council Member Grossnickle said this seems to be all about punishment, not accountability. He also said it had been approved by the PEDC Board, and the City Council and they spent $50,000, even though the list of improvements in fmancial oversight had been made by Mrs. Clifford and the rest of the Board. Council Member Grossnickle said there may have been mistakes and problems with accountability, but they weren't necessarily illegal so they should move forward as Mr. Moore suggested. He said he did not see any point in trying to pursue legal action unless it was against the Algae Company, for example. He also said as far as the money that's been spent by the PEDC for the past 20 years, they cannot get it back, it's gone and if the citizens are for doing away with the PEDC that was their right. Council Member Grossnickle said there was a big orchestrated campaign going on to make the citizens feel this way, and if you look back at the people responsible they are the ones constantly on the radio, the television, Channel 8 news, and they are the ones that hang around after Council meetings after having a 4 %2 hour meeting. Council Member Grossnickle said he thought if they spend any more money, it should be towards recovering money that was recoverable. He also said the Incubator was shut down, and he did not know how much money they had in their bank account, but if there was money there they should try to get that back and return it to the PEDC. Mr. Moore said other than that, he did not see much recourse at this point or punishment. Council Member Lancaster said the main thing was to make sure these things did not continue. Council Member Lancaster referenced the Algae Project and said they have a lot more money than that the $100,000. She also said the citizens were due the City's diligence, as they had invested in trying to improve the City's future. Council Member Lancaster said she made no apologies about going on the radio, shaking hands, or trying to get her point of view across, because she was backed up by fact. She said she would show anyone the facts, it was what it was, that this could not be whitewashed and it was a shame. Council Member Pickle asked her if she was willing to take responsibility and she responded that she was and would be willing to review PEDS's expenditures that she brought to the meeting