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Joint City Council /PEDC Meeting September 15, 2014 Page 9 Mr. Wilson said he was hearing that the director should be accountable, because he gave out the money and it did not work out. He said the PEDC Board should have reprimanded Mr. Gilbert and then inquired if he was given a job performance evaluation. Mrs. Clifford informed Mr. Wilson that all of these things were done prior to her being appointed to the Board, including the Algae Agreement, the HWH Agreement and the R313I (Incubator). She said the Board put policies and procedures in place to limit the amount of travel expenses. She also said Mr. Gilbert would go to Las Vegas and stay at the Wynne and they put a stop to that, but did allow the Howard Johnson. Mr. Wilson wanted to know when Mrs. Clifford discovered this if she put anything in his personnel file. Mr. Turner told Mr. Wilson that the Board did not know this was going on until they received the Defenbaugh report. Mr. Turner said they stopped the Incubator, because it was a sinkhole for money. Mr. Turner also said when you first get on the Board; you do not know what is going on. Mrs. Clifford said when she asked for the Incubator contract, she was given a copy but did not learn that it had never been signed until she was speaking to one of the other parties. Mrs. Clifford told Mr. Wilson that Mr. Gilbert quit. She stated they had limited what he could spend, including credit card expenditures. Mrs. Clifford said she expressed concern and Mr. Wilson stated she did not place anything in his personnel file. Mr. Turner said he did not place anything in Mr. Gilbert's file either and told Mr. Wilson to quit jumping on Mrs. Clifford. Mr. Turner said once the Board started reviewing all of the finances, Mr. Gilbert quit because he knew it was coming. Steve Grubbs said he read the allegations of fraud, waste and abuse, and about the possible ethics violation. He inquired of Mr. Moore if there was a nondisclosure form and Mr. Moore answered in the affirmative, stating he thought Mr. Biard completed a form on August 23, 2010. Mr. Grubbs asked if Mr. Defenbaugh discovered this during his investigation and Mr. Moore said he thought it was provided in between the preliminary report and final report. Mr. Wilson said Mr. Defenbaugh had simply asked questions and investigated, but he did not call the city and he did not call anyone to find out if there was a conflict of interest statement. Mr. Wilson said Mr. Defenbaugh took whatever was given to him by Mrs. Clifford and others, and made his report. Council Member Lancaster said there were a lot of people who refused to be interviewed. Council Member Hashmi said at a point he felt that Mr. Wilson had a conflict of interest when the Incubator was being discussed because of his association. He asked if conflict of interest rules apply to PEDC board members like they do to City Council. Mr. Wilson said he was not on the PEDC Board when the Incubator was going on. Council Member Hashmi said he was asking if Mr. Wilson had a conflict now that he was on the PEDC and the R313I was being investigated. Mr. Moore informed them that it applies to local or public officials and the AG opinion had concluded that States Statute on conflicts of interest does not apply to Type A Board Members. He said he understood that it was imposed locally. Mr. Wilson said he did not understand how he had a conflict of interest and asked if he was saying he could not even engage in discussion because Defenbaugh's report covered the R3131. Council Member Hashmi said he was referring to the city ordinance on conflicts. Mr. Wilson questioned how he had a conflict. Council Member Hashmi said Mr. Moore told them if you had a conflict you could not even engage in discussion. Mr. Moore explained it was those that had a substantial interest in R3BI,