GEORGETOWN, S.C. — It appears Waccamaw Economic Opportunity Council has been spared from being forced to close its doors a second time.

The state Office of Economic Opportunity had set a deadline of this past Friday for the WEOC board of directors to present documentation showing it is taking steps to come into compliance with areas of bylaw violations the state discovered earlier this year.

Louise Cooper, director of the OEO, said Friday afternoon her office has received the written documentation it was seeking.

Cooper said she still has to review all the documents but, she said, “it looks as if” the board has met compliance.

If the requested information had not been provided by Friday, Cooper was prepared to begin the process of closing the Conway-based agency that helps people in need in Georgetown, Horry and Williamsburg Counties.

In March, the OEO presented the WEOC board with an audit which contained a list of violations of the agency’s bylaws.

In June — after the board, according to the OEO, had not taken steps to correct the noted problems — the state shut the organization down by withholding its funds. However, above normal temperatures caused Cooper’s decision to be reversed so the agency could help residents during the heat wave.

The board has repeatedly denied the violation claims made in the March report.

One of the bigger issues the board had to deal with was the illegal election of two of its members last year — Abdullah Mustafa and Wade Sessions.

A “reassessment vote” was held for both men two weeks ago resulting in Sessions keeping his seat and Abdullah being ousted from the board.

The OEO had previously called for Mustafa to be removed from the board because of alleged violation of the bylaws for reportedly interfering with the day to day activities of the WEOC staff. Other board members were also found to have violated that rule but they have attended training sessions and said they would be careful to not interfere in the future.

Last week the board voted to abide by the results of the reassessment vote removing Mustafa.

There are still other issues the board has to tackle. For example, several people resigned from the 15-member board this year and those seats have to be filled.

A meeting will be held this Thursday to talk about the process of filling Mustafa’s seat.

Also, last week the board fired WEOC Executive Director Elizabeth Fryar.

This could lead to a legal battle between Fryar and the board because she was out on sick leave at the time of her termination.

Her attorney, Henrietta Golding of Myrtle Beach, said it is illegal to terminate someone who is on leave under the Family Medical Leave Act.

By Scott Harper

sharper@gtowntimes.com