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 September 8, 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, Director of Administrative Services and Clerk/Treasurer, Lisa Wallace were also present. Town Attorney G.W. Parker was absent. 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 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 8, 2016. The meeting was opened with prayer by Ms. Czarnik followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION Mayor Johnson called forward Summerville Farmer’s Market Supervisor, George Ketchel, and presented him with a Proclamation proclaiming Saturday, October 1, 2016 as Summerville Farmer’s Market’s 25th Anniversary. Mayor Johnson thanked Parks and Recreation Manager, Doyle Best, and everyone else who help make the Farmer’s Market a successful community event. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mayor Johnson called for any comments from the public. Robin Dudley spoke about the value of libraries and invited the Mayor and Council to publicly support libraries and parks in Dorchester County. She also thanked the Mayor for having his “Chat with the Mayor” event. William Harbeson reported that there is a ditch located at 404 W. Richardson Avenue that needs to be piped or have some sort of blockade to prevent people from driving into the ditch. Kathy Kuick asked why the Council took away the Mayor’s powers in one day but need to wait until 2020 to have the Mayor’s powers restored. Adrian Kwist said he has never seen the town more divided and spoke about the referendum to change the form of government. He stated that setting an implementation date to restore the Mayor’s powers is premature and asked council to table setting an implementation date. Peter Gorman spoke about the ordinance setting a special election date and implementation date on the question of changing the form of government. He then read a statement from his wife, Carolyn Gorman, that listed her reasons for believing that delaying implementation of a change in government, if the referendum passes, is inconsistent with the people’s right to change their form of government. Jennifer Bailey stated that she Council Meeting Minutes 200 South Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483-6000 * 843.871.6000, Fax: 843.871.6954 www.SummervilleSC.gov September 8, 2016 Page 2 respectfully but adamantly disagrees with Mr. Kwist’s and Mr. Gorman’s comments and supports a strong council form of government. Terry Jenkins spoke about the upcoming selection of the Chief of Police and spoke in support of one of the candidates, Jon Rogers, and listed the reasons he felt Capt. Rogers was the best candidate for the position. Chris Coutant, a Dorchester County resident seeking property in Summerville, stated that he was disheartened by what Peter Gorman and the Mayor have brought to the town adding that he has never seen the town so divided. Joan Brown invited everyone to attend an event to support local police and announced that the event will be held on September 21st and tickets are $10.00. Heyward Hutson thanked council for the $5,000 grant for historic markers that will help to educate residents and tourists about the area’s history. There being no further comments, the Mayor declared the public comments 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 August 11, 2016 council meeting and the September 1, 2016 special council meeting as presented. The motion carried unanimously. APPROVAL OF COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS Mr. Jackson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Bailey, to approve the September 6, 2016 Planning and Development Committee Report as submitted. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Jackson made a motion, seconded by Mr. Brown, to approve the September 6, 2016 Parks and Recreation Committee meeting as submitted. The motion carried unanimously. Ms. Garten- Schmidt made a motion, seconded by Ms. Czarnik, to approve the September 6, 2016 Public Works Committee Report as submitted. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. McIntosh made a motion, seconded by Mr. Jackson, to approve the September 6, 2016 Finance Committee Report as submitted. The motion carried unanimously. PETITIONS Mr. McIntosh made a motion, seconded by Mr. Jackson, to accept the petition and have first reading of an ordinance to annex Dorchester Co. TMS#s 136-13-00-047, 136-13-00-046, 136- 13-00-045, 136-13-00-044, 136-13-00-043, 136-13-00-042, 136-13-00-041, 136-13-00-040, 136- 13-00-039, 136-13-00-038, 136-13-00-037, 136-13-00-036, 136-13-00-035, 136-13-00-034, 136- 13-00-033, 136-13-00-032, 136-13-00-031, 136-13-00-030, 136-13-00-029, 136-13-00-028, 136- 13-00-027, 136-13-00-026, 136-13-00-025, 136-13-00-024, 136-13-00-023, 136-13-00-022, 136- 13-00-021 and 136-13-00-020, 28 lots (7.78 acres), located at 1000 through 1032 Providence Way, currently zoned R-2, Single-Family Residential in Dorchester Co. and will be zoned R-2, Single-Family Residential upon annexation into the Town of Summerville. Mr. Bailey expressed some concern about bringing the county road into the town’s maintenance program and suggested that the town annex the property without taking over the maintenance of the road, adding that the residents would continue to pay county taxes. Mr. McIntosh then amended his motion to authorize the acceptance and first reading of the ordinance but deleting the town’s acceptance of the roadway. Mr. Jackson seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously. Council Meeting Minutes 200 South Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483-6000 * 843.871.6000, Fax: 843.871.6954 www.SummervilleSC.gov September 8, 2016 Page 3 PENDING BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS Mr. McIntosh made a motion, seconded by Mr. Bailey, to have second and final reading of an ordinance to annex Dorchester County TMS #145-13-11-012, located at 117 Live Oak Road, approximately 0.39 acres, owned by Lonnie and Dolores Denton, currently zoned R-2 “Residential” in Dorchester County, to be zoned R-2 “Single Family Residential” upon annexation. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Brown made a motion, seconded by Ms. Czarnik, to have second and final reading of an ordinance to rezone TMS #136-00-00-093 located at 155 Droze Lane, approximately 7.25 acres, owned by Paul Grove and currently zoned R2 “Single Family Residential” to be rezoned R-3 “Single Family Residential” (attached buildings). The motion carried unanimously. Mr. McIntosh made a motion, seconded by Mr. Jackson, to have second and final reading of an ordinance to set a special election date for November 8, 2016 on the following question: “Shall the municipality of the Town of Summerville change its form of government from Council form to Mayor-Council form?” and if the majority of the votes cast by the qualified electors of the Town of Summerville are in favor of the change in the form of government, the change shall be implemented on January 8, 2020. Ms. Czarnik made a motion, seconded by Mr. Brown, to amend Section 3 of the ordinance to set the implementation date to January 1, 2017. After some discussion, the Mayor called for the vote on the amendment, Ms. Czarnik, Mr. Brown, and Mayor Johnson voted in favor of the motion to amend. Mr. Bailey, Ms. Garten-Schmidt, Mr. Jackson and Mr. McIntosh voted against the motion to amend and the motion failed. Mayor Johnson then called for the vote on the original motion. Ms. Czarnik and Mr. Brown voted against the motion. Mr. Bailey, Ms. Garten-Schmidt, Mr. Jackson, Mr. McIntosh and Mayor Johnson voted in favor of the motion and the motion passed. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS There were no new bills or resolutions. MISCELLANEOUS Mayor Johnson discussed a proposed resolution supporting a rail system in South Carolina. After some discussion, Mr. Jackson made a motion, seconded by Ms. Garten-Schmidt, to adopt a Resolution in support of transportation options for the State of South Carolina. The motion carried unanimously. Ms. Czarnik made a motion, seconded by Ms. Garten-Schmidt, to approve the security system proposal. During discussion, Mr. Martin provided answers to questions posed at the last council meeting reporting that the vendor agreed to maintain their bid price of $68,000 through February of 2017. He also reported that the price for the cameras only in both buildings would be $38,000 and the price for cameras and access control in old town hall only would be $49,979. Mr. Brown stated that he did not want to use fund balance for the purchase, which was echoed by Mr. McIntosh. Mr. McIntosh suggested that we include this in the 2017 budget. Mr. Bailey suggested that Officer Medlock, who is assigned to the court, be given a town issued cell phone and panic buttons installed that would alert him. After further discussion, Mr. Brown made a motion to amend the motion and approve the purchase but fund it with the 2017 budget. The Council Meeting Minutes 200 South Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483-6000 * 843.871.6000, Fax: 843.871.6954 www.SummervilleSC.gov September 8, 2016 Page 4 motion was seconded by Mr. McIntosh. Mr. Bailey, Ms. Garten-Schmidt, Mr. Brown, Mr. Jackson and Mr. McIntosh voted in favor of the motion. Ms. Czarnik and Mayor Johnson voted against the motion and the motion carried. Mr. Martin requested that council delay consideration of the compensatory time policy until the next meeting to give staff time to make a correction to the proposed policy. There were no objections to this request. MAYOR’S REMARKS Mayor Johnson reported that the “Chat with the Mayor” event was very successful and plans to have more meetings in the future. He added that people could also come and see him or give him a call at any time. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mr. McIntosh made a motion, seconded by Mr. Jackson, to enter into executive session at 7:12 p.m. to discuss personnel matters related to the Chief of Police position and to discuss legal matters related to pending litigation related to the Sawmill Branch Trail and legal matters related to the Dorchester Hotel project, the public-private-partnership agreement, Croft vs. Town of Summerville and Applegate & Co. Council returned to public session at 8:15 p.m. and announced that no action was taken. OTHER BUSINESS (ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY COUNCIL RELATED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION Mr. Martin described the selection process for the Chief of Police and announced that his recommendation, for council’s consideration, is to appoint Capt. Jon Rogers as Chief of Police. Mr. Bailey then made a motion, seconded by Mr. Brown, to accept the Administrator’s recommendation and appoint Jon Rogers as Summerville’s Chief of Police and authorized the Town Administrator to negotiate the terms of his employment. The motion carried unanimously. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:21 p.m. on motion of Mr. Brown, seconded by Mr. McIntosh. 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