BLYTHEWOOD – MPA Strategies, LLC has filed a reply to the Town’s counterclaims filed July 20, 2021, in response to a lawsuit filed by MPA Strategies against the town government on June 28, 2021. All the claims and responses were filed in the Court of Common Pleas Fifth Judicial Circuit in Richland County. MPA also […]
MPA files lawsuit against Town after mayor fails to comply with FOI law
July 8, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – The Town of Blythewood has been at risk of a legal action for almost two months after Mayor Bryan Franklin failed to submit responsive documents to a Freedom of Information request from MPA Strategies, the town’s newly contracted marketing and grant writing firm. On Tuesday, June 28, MPA filed that legal action against […]
Attorney: Franklin has not complied with MPA Strategies’ FOIA request
June 3, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – Mayor Bryan Franklin has continued to publicly criticize two town council members for, according to Franklin, not complying with an FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request submitted by The County Chronicle. The request is for documents from all council members and the mayor that pertain to MPA Strategies dating back to Oct. 1, […]
Mayor Franklin says he’s besieged by council/media conspiracy
May 27, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – When an article in the April 29 issue of The Voice reported that Mayor Bryan Franklin unilaterally hired outside counsel – without town council’s consent – to represent the Town concerning MPA Strategies, Franklin, in a 19+ minute tirade against the newspaper’s account, said it was “absolutely fabricated and false.” He insisted that […]
MPA Strategies’ Ashley Hunter wants to put the shine on Blythewood
May 13, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – Blythewood’s new marketing effort kicked off May 1, the day Ashley Hunter started work at town hall. Hunter’s marketing firm, MPA Strategies, was selected by the Blythewood Town Council for marketing and grant writing by a competitive RFP process. “My job is listening to what citizens and businesses are saying, listening to what […]
Town, MPA sign; council may have violated FOIA
April 29, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – After months of acrimonious council discussions concerning contract negotiations between Blythewood Mayor Bryan Franklin and MPA Strategies, the climate has turned legal. While Franklin was one of two members of council who voted against contracting with MPA Strategies to handle promotional services and grant writing for the town, he, Town Administrator Carroll Williamson […]
Council stretches negotiations on MPA Strategies contract to April 26
April 8, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – Raising his voice in angry criticism at the end of a special called town council meeting on April 1, Jerry Rega, representing the Greater Blythewood Chamber of Commerce, called for council members to reconsider a proposal submitted by the chamber in January in response to town council’s Request for Proposal (RFP) to provide […]
Town Council hires MPA Strategies to market, brand Blythewood
February 25, 2021 By
BLYTHEWOOD – After months of contentious wrangling over who should receive 30 percent of the Town’s SAT (state accommodation tax) funds to market and brand the Town of Blythewood, town council voted 3-2 in favor of a Columbia firm, MPA Strategies. The Greater Blythewood Chamber of Commerce and MPA were the two finalists out of […]
