A - Town Council Meetings

MOUNT PLEASANT TOWN COUNCIL Special Council Meeting Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 5:00 PM Council Chambers Mount Pleasant Municipal Complex 100 Ann Edwards Lane, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 MINUTES Click here to listen to the recording. 1. Call to Order Mayor Will Haynie called to order at 5:00 p.m. the special Town Council meeting for Tuesday, September 9, 2025. 2. Public Comment Mayor Haynie opened the floor for public comment. There were no members of the public who came forward to speak. 3. Executive Session Personnel Mayor Haynie announced the executive session items, which included: (1) Consideration of applications to serve on the Board of Zoning Appeals (1 vacancy) (2) Consideration of applications to serve on the Planning Commission (1 vacancy) (3) Consideration of applications to serve on the Historical Commission (4) Discussion of a personnel matter regarding the conduct of an individual serving on a Town board Motion to enter executive session was made by Council Member Santos and seconded by Council Member Chapman. The motion passed unanimously. Council entered into executive session at 5:01 p.m. 4. Post Executive Session Council may take action on any item, including any subsection of any section, listed on an executive session agenda or discussed in executive session during a properly noticed meeting. Mayor Haynie reconvened the meeting at 5:51 p.m. and announced that no action was taken and no votes were cast during the executive session. Council considered several appointments following executive session: Motion to appoint Georgette Rivera to the Historical Commission was made by Council Member Chapman and seconded by Council Member Hyatt. The motion passed unanimously. Motion to appoint Andrea Kornick to the Board of Zoning Appeals was made by Council Member Iacofano and seconded by Council Member Santos. The motion passed unanimously. Motion to reappoint Brett Bennett to the Planning Commission was made by Council Member Mike Tinkey and seconded by Council Member Iacofano. The motion passed unanimously. Mayor Haynie noted that Mr. Bennett was currently serving as chair of the Planning Commission. A motion was made by Council Member Brownstein to remove Deidre Kennedy from the Tree Task Force due to conduct unbecoming of a board member. The motion was seconded by Council Member Santos. During discussion, Council Member Laura Hyatt stated she was not in favor of removing the board member, noting that they had not heard from Ms. Kennedy or spoken with her about the situation. She added that she would not approve removing any volunteer member of the board at this time. Council Member Tinkey agreed, stating he was also not in favor because they had not heard from Ms. Kennedy. Mayor Haynie concurred with these comments, stating that before anyone is tried and found guilty, they should be heard from, and that there had been no due process. The Mayor added that Ms. Kennedy was on her own property, not representing the town, and that there is precedent for people's free speech. Mayor Haynie noted she was exercising her First Amendment rights on her own property to protect her own property, and stated he would not be voting to remove her. A roll call vote was conducted by Clerk Christine Barrett: Council Member Brownstein: Yes; Council Member Chapman: No; Council Member Hyatt: No; Council Member Iacofano: Yes; Council Member Rambo: Absent; Council Member Santos: No; Council Member Tinkey: No; Council Member Whitley: No; Mayor Haynie: No. The motion to remove Ms. Kennedy from the Tree Task Force failed by a vote of 6-2. 5. Adjourn Mayor Haynie adjourned the meeting, at 5:55 p.m. noting that Council would reconvene at 6:00 p.m. for the regular monthly meeting. Respectfully submitted, Christine Barrett Clerk of Council September 9, 2025