Published: June 29, 2009 07:26 pm      

Audit request tied to pottery brouhaha

SEAGROVE — Complaints by members of the Museum of N.C. Traditional Pottery in Seagrove has led to an investigation of two state agencies.

A letter by Linda Carlisle, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, to Beth Wood, state auditor, asks for an investigation into allegations by potters Phil Morgan and Don Hudson.

"... They allege that the Department has conspired with the North Carolina Pottery Center (in Seagrove) to take over the Seagrove Pottery Festival," Carlisle's letter states. "They also allege that the Department has attempted to take over the North Carolina Pottery Center in an effort to put rival potters in the area out of business.

"They have also requested that the Department conduct an investigation into use of State funds and operational controls for the Pottery Center," the letter continues. "I am concerned about these allegations and would like the opinion of a neutral third party. I believe it is imperative that these issues be resolved so that all involved can move forward.

"Although I do not think the Department has done anything inappropriate, I am requesting that the Office of the State Auditor conduct an audit regarding these matters. I look forward to cooperating with your office in this matter.

"Sincerely, Linda A. Carlisle, Secretary."

In an e-mail addressed to "Dear Friend of North Carolina Pottery and Craft," Carlisle said, "... the Department had contemplated bringing the N.C. Pottery Center under its administration, to expand the state's folklife resources. For a variety of reasons, including budget constraints and dissension by some potters in the Seagrove area, we elected to withdraw this initiative.

"Recent allegations about the Department and its staff have been made by Mr. Phil Morgan and Mr. Don Hudson. Some of their e-mails have been widely circulated to you, to the community, press and elected officials.

"I take this situation very seriously, including the damage done to the reputation of staff and of the Department. My staff is responding to the frequent requests for numerous documents, correspondence, grant applications and reports, primarily from 2007-2008. Some requests we cannot fulfill as they are beyond the Department's scope of authority, yet we have been unable to effectively communicate this fact to them. ..."

Carlisle attached a copy of her letter to the state auditor and adds that "if there are issues that need to be addressed, we will take appropriate action. We will fully cooperate with the Auditor's investigation and look forward to the Auditor's assessment, and the opportunity to put this matter to rest. ..."

A six-page document produced by Morgan and Hudson accuses the Department of Cultural Resources with attempting to destroy the Museum of N.C. Traditional Pottery while putting control of the Seagrove Pottery Festival into the hands of the N.C. Pottery Center. While that didn't occur, a rival group of potters formed their own group called the Seagrove Potters Association, which held its own festival the same weekend as the Seagrove Pottery Festival.

The document asks not only for Carlisle to release documents and order an investigation, but for County Manager Richard Wells to explain what happened from the county's perspective and for the N.C. Pottery Center to investigate former director Denny Meacham's role and "quit claiming that it is 'neutral' in the conflict between local potters if it is in fact in a partnership with the 'Celebration of Seagrove Potters' Festival."