Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration abruptly terminated two senior employees in the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources on Wednesday, Feb. 28. The agency, run by Secretary Susi Hamilton, has offered no explanation for the firings.
State Parks Director Michael Murphy and Director of State Historical Sites Keith Hardison lost their jobs. Reached by phone, Hardison confirmed to Carolina Journal he was terminated, but said he did not want to discuss the situation.
A state parks employee confirmed to CJ that, as of Wednesday, Murphy was no longer employed in that office. The employee referred CJ to the department’s director of communications Neel Lattimore for additional information. Lattimore initially told CJ he didn’t know why the two were terminated but promised to get an answer. Lattimore later sent an email referring CJ to the State of North Carolina Public Information Individual Employee record.
Murphy and Hardison were in positions classified as exempt from the protections of the State Personnel Act. They served at the pleasure of Cooper. CJ was unable to determine who ordered the firings.
Murphy is a former science teacher and financial consultant. He had served as director since 2014, and his salary was $121,597. Hardison had served in his position since 2006, and his salary was $104,624.
Murphy and Hardison no longer appear on the agency’s website in the leadership section.