News-Record.com

Over at her blog, Greensboro City Council member Sandy Carmany said she expects the council tonight to authorize the release of more information about Police Chief David Wray, who resigned Monday.

That matches what I heard Monday from several council members who told me they wanted to make as much information possible about the situation surrounding Chief Wray public.

"I believe in being as open as you can under the law," Yvonne Johnson said. "I think people have a right to know."

"We should operate under the policy of openness," Mike Barber said. "(Releasing information) allows us to begin closure of one chapter and the beginning of the next one."

Tom Phillips said he wants to release everything possible so the community can "really understand what was going on here."

Most contents of a city employee's personnel file are usually kept confidential, but state law provides some exemptions to that rule.

This is an excerpt from Section 160A-168:

The city manager, with concurrence of the council, or, in cities not having a manager, the council may inform any person of the employment or nonemployment, promotion, demotion, suspension or other disciplinary action, reinstatement, transfer, or termination of a city employee and the reasons for that personnel action. Before releasing the information, the manager or council shall determine in writing that the release is essential to maintaining public confidence in the administration of city services or to maintaining the level and quality of city services. This written determination shall be retained in the office of the manager or the city clerk, and is a record available for public inspection and shall become part of the employee's personnel file.