Catlin, Thompson react to Berger’s repetitive, rambling, ripping email sent to county staff

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) “I’m very concerned,” New Hanover County Commissioner Rick Catlin told Ramon Tuesday in regards to an email Brian Berger sent Monday. In it, Berger ripped several members of county staff for not getting information he requested.

Berger even accused his fellow commissioners of holding secret meetings about an air-quality issue he was researching.

Catlin says the email and its tone were uncalled for. “Normally I try not to weigh in on things Brian does or doesn’t do, but in this case, after reading his six-page very angry tirade I had to defend county staff,” he said.

Catlin says he emailed Berger and let him know nothing was going on behind his back and that the county staff acted appropriately.

Commission Vice Chair Jason Thompson says Berger may just need a lesson on how things are done in a county government. “Perhaps we need a brief on the commissioner / manager form of government. Perhaps we need a re briefing on what the chairman and vice chairman do outside the normal commissioners. Maybe we need to have a little brief on the way the state says the way we can interact with staff members. Maybe we just need to get everyone up to speed, I don’t know what else to say.”