Town Council

Wiley Johnson, Mayor Town Administrator Colin L. Martin Council Members: Bob Jackson, Mayor Pro-Tem Town Clerk and Treasurer Walter Bailey Lisa L. Wallace Aaron Brown Christine Czarnik Town Attorney Kima Garten-Schmidt G.W. Parker William McIntosh Town of Summerville COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES May 11, 2016 ATTENDANCE Present: Mayor Wiley Johnson, Mayor Pro-Tem Bob Jackson and Council members Walter Bailey, Aaron Brown, Christine Czarnik, Kima Garten-Schmidt, and Bill McIntosh. Town Administrator Colin Martin and Town Attorney G.W. Parker were also present. Members of the press and the public were duly notified of the meeting and were also present. CALL TO ORDER The regular monthly meeting of Summerville Town Council was called to order at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. The meeting was opened with prayer by Ms. Czarnik followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENTATION Mayor Johnson called forward David Irwin, CPA with Mauldin & Jenkins to present the 2015Audit Report. Mr. Irwin announced that the town has received a clean, unmodified opinion on this report. He added that the audit went extremely well and complimented the staff for being well prepared for the audit. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mayor Johnson called for any comments from the public. John Hayes of 319 Dupont Way stated that Summerville voters need to know the sources of income for all members of town council because voters are concerned that the interests of developers and real estate moguls are taking precedence. Terry Jenkins of 310 S. Laurel Street stated that, as a Summerville High School graduate, he would like to see green and gold on the police cars but understands the issue is safety and hopes council will support the recommendation of the Chief of Police. Zandrina Riley of 102 Daisy Circle asked if there was any update on the recycling issue. Mayor Johnson reported that it would be discussed later in the meeting. Heyward Hutson of 215 Golf Road echoed the concerns about recycling adding that he was especially concerned about the article in the paper suggesting that the town only has two options, one being to stay the course or the other to increase taxes. He feels there should be a collaborative effort between the county and the town to resolve the issue without additional taxes. Jim Bailey of 431 W. Carolina Ave. reported that he has the pleasure of being a church member with Colin Martin and has also served with him on a number of committees. He believes the Town made a fabulous choice in selecting him as Town Administrator and believes he will do a wonderful job for the town. He also thanked council for their work and referred to an article in the Summerville Journal Scene that called for 200 South Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483-6000 * 843.871.6000, Fax: 843.871.6954 www.SummervilleSC.gov Council Meeting Minutes May 11, 2016 Page 2 an end to some of the divisiveness that has taken place over the last few months and invited the Mayor to take a leadership role in asking the faction that is working against the town to drop their efforts. There being no further public comments, the Mayor declared that portion of the meeting closed. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS Mr. McIntosh made a motion, seconded by Mr. Brown, to approve the minutes of the April 13, 2016 council meeting as presented. The motion carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS Ms. Garten-Schmidt made a motion, seconded by Mr. Bailey, to approve the May 4, 2016 Finance Committee Report. Mayor Johnson reported that there was a vote taken at the Finance Committee meeting on the approval of the State Accommodations Tax Committee recommendations that was not recorded. Ms. Wallace stated that the report would be revised to reflect that the report was approved with Ms. Czarnik, Mr. Bailey, Ms. Garten-Schmidt, Mr. Jackson, Mr. McIntosh and Mayor Johnson voting in favor of the motion and Mr. Brown voting against the motion. Mayor Johnson also reported that there was a motion and a vote to hold the remaining $20,000 until further information could be obtained on a proposed digital sign. Ms. Wallace reported that the report would be revised to reflect that the vote on that motion was unanimous. Mayor Johnson called for the vote on approval of the May 4, 2016 Finance Committee report as amended. Ms. Czarnik, Mr. Bailey, Ms. Garten-Schmidt, Mr. Jackson and Mr. McIntosh voted in favor of the motion. Mr. Brown and Mayor Johnson voted against the motion. Mr. Brown indicated he is voting against the revised Finance Committee report because he continues to object to the State Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee recommendations. Mayor Johnson stated his reason for voting against the revised report is because he is opposed to the purchase of the Ford Explorer. Ms. Garten-Schmidt made a motion, seconded by Mr. Jackson, to approve the May 4, 2016 Public Works Committee Report as submitted. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Jackson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Brown, to approve the May 4, 2016 Public Safety Committee Report as submitted. Mr. Brown clarified that the only item discussed at the meeting was the police department vehicles and the proposal to go back to green and gold colors. Mr. Bailey confirmed that the unanimous recommendation of the committee was to keep the colors blue and black as recommended by the Chief of Police. Mr. Brown pointed out that he originally had some reservations about the new colors but the Chief explained that blue is more reflective. Mayor Johnson added that he believes green and gold can be just as reflective as blue and black. Ms. Czarnik stated that during the committee meeting she seconded the motion to move the matter on to full council for consideration and did not necessarily agree with the motion. Mayor Johnson then called for the vote to accept the committee report. The motion carried unanimously. PETITIONS Ms. Wallace reported that no petitions have been submitted. 200 South Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483-6000 * 843.871.6000, Fax: 843.871.6954 www.SummervilleSC.gov Council Meeting Minutes May 11, 2016 Page 3 PENDING BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS Mr. Jackson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Bailey, to have second and final reading of an ordinance to annex Dorchester County TMS # 129-06-07-009, 0.46 acres, located on Renau Blvd. and owned by Diane Hill to be zoned PUD “Planned Unit Development”. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Brown made a motion, seconded by Mr. Jackson, to have second and final reading of an ordinance to amend Chapter 6, Section 6-37 of the Code of Laws of the Town of Summerville entitled Adoption of Building Codes. The motion carried unanimously. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS Mr. Jackson made a motion, seconded by Ms. Czarnik, to adopt a Resolution to require the use of green and gold logos on Town of Summerville police cruisers as they are replaced or repaired. Ms. Czarnik stated that there might be a compromise indicating that she likes the bold lettering of the new design but thinks the colors should coincide with the town’s new branding campaign adding that green is identified as the town’s color. Mr. Bailey stated that this decision should be in the purview of the police chief who is a qualified department head and should be the one making this decision. Mr. Jackson likes the green and gold but pointed out that a new design would add a third design to the vehicles which could force the town to redo all vehicles to avoid confusion but at a potentially significant cost. Ms. Garten-Schmidt stated that she thought green and gold were town colors and did not realize it was associated with Summerville High School but feels that the new design is more reflective and better for public safety. Mr. Brown stated that he agrees with the Chief of Police and the town should stick with the new design. Mayor Johnson stated that the green and gold makes the police vehicles very recognizable and would not recommend changing the existing vehicles, only the new vehicles as they are acquired. The Mayor then called for the vote to adopt the Resolution. Ms. Czarnik and Mayor Johnson voted in favor of the motion. Mr. Bailey, Ms. Garten-Schmidt, Mr. Brown, Mr. Jackson, and Mr. McIntosh voted against the motion and the motion failed. MISCELLANEOUS Mr. Brown made a motion, seconded by Mr. McIntosh, to approve the Community Development Block Grant action plan for 2016. Ms. Wallace explained that the 2016 action plan includes the construction of sidewalks on W. 2nd North Street and associated administrative costs. Ms. Czarnik stated she has some concerns about the CDBG funding stating that the funds have only been used for housing projects for two of the last six years. Mayor Johnson said he is also concerned stating that from time to time HUD changes the fine print and wants to be sure everyone is aware of recent changes. Mayor Johnson then called for the vote. Mr. Bailey, Ms. Garten-Schmidt, Mr. Brown, Mr. Jackson, Mr. McIntosh and Mayor Johnson voted in favor of the motion and Ms. Czarnik voted against the motion. The motion carried. Mayor Johnson stated the next item up for discussion is the Finance Committee meeting date and time. Mr. Jackson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Bailey, to hold the meetings during the same week and have the standing committee meetings (including finance) on Monday at 5:00 p.m. and move the council meetings to Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Mr. Bailey seconded that motion adding that a change in the council meeting would have to be done by ordinance. Mr. Jackson clarified 200 South Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483-6000 * 843.871.6000, Fax: 843.871.6954 www.SummervilleSC.gov Council Meeting Minutes May 11, 2016 Page 4 that no change in the schedule would be made until after the ordinance has been approved. Ms. Czarnik stated spacing the meetings is helpful to her but she’d like to hear from the staff about what they need to do to get prepared for these meetings. Mr. Brown also stated he’d like to hear from the staff. He suggested that council table this discussion and ask Mr. Martin to collect input from the staff and make a recommendation to council. Mr. Jackson withdrew his motion in order to give Town Administrator Martin an opportunity to collect input from the staff and to provide a recommendation at the next council meeting. Mayor Johnson stated that the next item on the agenda is discussion of the recycling program. He reported that his editorial spelled out the town’s options in simple terms: 1.) do nothing or 2.) pay the additional cost for recycling. He asked for any additional input from the Council. Mr. Jackson indicated he has not voted for a tax increase in the past and would not want to increase taxes for this. He added that the option to take recycling to the recycling centers is still available to residents and questioned how much the recycling would really benefit the planet if the town is sending diesel trucks all the way to Columbia. Mr. Jackson made a motion that this issue be tabled and asked the Mayor to appoint Heyward Hutson to a committee to see if there are better options. Mr. Brown seconded the motion and expressed the importance of having citizen input. Mayor Johnson suggested that the Public Works Committee hold a public hearing. Mr. McIntosh reported that the input he has received is that people like recycling and want to have the single stream option available to them but there is not a desire to pay more for the service. Ms. Garten-Schmidt stated that she would like to have more public input also before making a decision. Mr. Bailey felt this item should go to the Public Works Committee rather than an ad hoc committee and the committee Chairman should decide whether to hold a public hearing. Mayor Johnson agreed that this item should be sent back to the Public Works Committee for more public input. Mr. Jackson withdrew his motion to table and appoint Mr. Hutson to an ad hoc committee. Mayor Johnson announced that the recycling program will be sent back to the Public Works Committee for further action and asked that the committee have a recommendation at the next meeting. EXECUTIVE SESSION Town Attorney G.W. Parker announced that there was no need for an executive session; therefore, the executive session was cancelled. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ___________________________________ Lisa Wallace, Director of Administrative Services and Clerk/Treasurer APPROVED: _______________________________________ William W. Johnson, Mayor 200 South Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483-6000 * 843.871.6000, Fax: 843.871.6954 www.SummervilleSC.gov