THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 22, 1994 TAG: 9412220561
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY THOMAS YOCUM, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: BUXTON LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
A spokesman for disgruntled members of the Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative on Wednesday night asked the power company's board of directors to fire the accounting firm that was paid $434,206 over the past year.
``A great majority of cooperative members,'' said Ward Barnett of Frisco, ``feel the board of directors should terminate the services of Johnson and Dooley.''
The board also was given petitions signed by 500 people asking for a special meeting of members to discuss the operation and spending policies of the cooperative.
The president of the board, Jack Gray, said in response to the petitions that a meeting open to all members will be held Feb. 1 in the Hatteras School auditorium.
The board took no action on the request to discharge Johnson and Dooley of Danville, Va., as the cooperative's accountant. Some board members said nothing could be done until another accounting firm completes a study of the cooperative's financial record.
The board, holding its regular monthly meeting, also was criticized by an Avon newcomer, David Fabel, for hiring a public relations firm after members complained that they were not allowed access to records and could not get answers to spending policies.
The cooperative employs about 20 people, has about 3,825 customers and is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization owned by power customers. Only one public meeting is held each year, and that usually is sparsely attended. But this fall Manager John A. Echols resigned after four months, contending directors meddled and kept him from doing his job and were paying some employees too much.
Documents released by Echols showed the co-op had paid its accounting firm more than $434,206 in the past year, including $22,380 for chartered air flights. by CNB