NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

MINUTES – WORK SESSION

JUNE 7, 2006

 

The Newberry County Council met on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. in the Conference Room at the Courthouse Annex, 1309 College Street, Newberry, SC, for a work session. 

 

Present were:                Mike Hawkins, Chairman

                                    William D. Waldrop, Vice-Chairman (late)

                                    John E. Caldwell, Councilman

                                    Henry B. Summer, Councilman

                                    John David Dawkins, Councilman

                                    Andy Morris, Councilman

                                    Edgar Baker, Councilman

                                    J.E. Klugh, Acting County Administrator

                                    Gary T. Pope, County Attorney

                                    Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council

                                    Debbie S. Cromer, Finance Director

 

Media:                          Heather Hawkins, WKDK

                                    Cindy Pitts, Newberry Observer

 

Notice of the meeting was duly advertised as required by law.

 

Mr. Hawkins called the meeting to order and determined a quorum to be present.

 

Mr. Hawkins advised that a member of the Community Hall Board refused to allow the County to borrow folding chairs for tonight’s Council meeting.  Mr. Dawkins moved to direct County personnel to obtain the chairs since they were coming from another county building and were county property; second by Mr. Morris.  Vote was unanimous.  [Mr. Waldrop was absent.]

 

Mr. Hawkins announced that Senator Ronnie Cromer and Representative Walt McLeod were planning to attend tonight’s Council meeting to discuss the property tax amendments.

 

Mr. Baker moved to go into Executive Session to discuss an economic development matter and the office building on Highway 219; second by Mr. Morris.  Vote was unanimous.

 

[EXECUTIVE SESSION 1:06 P.M. – 1:33 P.M.]

 

Mr. Waldrop moved to return to open session; second by Mr. Summer.  Vote was unanimous.

 

After discussion of the budget for fiscal year 2006-2007, Council took the following action: 

 

1.         Mr. Morris moved to add back into the budget the $18,270 for Piedmont Technical College; second by Mr. Waldrop.  Vote was unanimous.

 

2.         Mr. Waldrop moved to fund $30,000 for a 4-H agent for Clemson Extension; second by Mr. Morris.  Voting for the motion:  Councilmen Waldrop and Morris.  Voting against the motion:  Councilmen Hawkins, Summer, Caldwell, Dawkins and Baker.  Motion failed. 

 

3.         Mr. Morris moved to authorize the County Administrator to look into a lease/purchase arrangement for office equipment, such as scanners, etc.; second by Mr. Waldrop.  Voting for the motion:  Councilmen Hawkins, Waldrop, Morris and Baker.  Voting against the motion:  Councilmen Summer, Caldwell and Dawkins.  Motion passed by majority vote.

 

4.         Mr. Dawkins moved to fund $80,055 to Newberry County Memorial Hospital EMS for an additional 12 hours/7days EMS service in the lower part of the County; second by Mr. Morris.  Voting for the motion:  Councilmen Dawkins, Morris and Waldrop.  Voting against the motion:  Councilmen Caldwell, Baker, Summer and Hawkins.  Motion failed.

 

5.         Mr. Summer moved to set up a separate account for gas/diesel; second by Mr. Baker.  Vote was unanimous.

 

6.         Mr. Baker moved to upgrade the Delinquent Tax Collector position from a Grade 12 to a Grade 16; second by Mr. Summer.  Voting for the motion:  None.  Voting against the motion:  Councilmen Hawkins, Waldrop, Caldwell, Summer, Dawkins, Morris and Baker.  Motion failed.

 

7.         Mr. Waldrop moved to reclassify the Grant Support Administrator position from Grade 20 to a Planner at Grade 18 and to reclassify the Zoning Administrator from a Grade 20 to a Planning and Zoning Administrator at a Grade 22 with no additional funding required; second by Mr. Morris.  Vote was unanimous.

 

8.         Mr. Summer moved to add in $6,785 for salary increases for the Library employees; second by Mr. Waldrop.  Vote was unanimous.

 

After discussion of the provisos, Council took the following action: 

 

1.         Mr. Summer moved to reduce the County Administrator’s authority for approving contracts from $100,000 to $40,000; second by Mr. Hawkins.  Vote was unanimous.  Accordingly, the proviso should now read as follows:

 

PROVIDED FURTHER that the County Council shall have sole authority to award contracts in excess of $40,000.  The County Council shall approve contracts for purchase or lease of real property and buildings.

 

2.         Mr. Baker moved to delete the following proviso:

 

PROVIDED FURTHER that the County Administrator may create any full time or permanent part-time positions without the consent and approval of the County Council, provided that funds are available in this budget for such positions; Newberry County Council will approve the creation of any positions for which monies have not been appropriated in this budget, however, the County Administrator shall approve all part-time or seasonal employees and shall approve all hiring or regular and permanent part-time employees.

 

Second by Mr. Dawkins.  Vote was unanimous.

 

11.       Mr. Caldwell moved to delete the following proviso under “Non-Departmental:”

 

PROVIDED FURTHER that any net positive adjustments to the salary accounts of the various departments shall be added to this Non-departmental account.  Notwithstanding any other Provisos herein, any net positive adjustments resulting from less than anticipated salary expenditures for 2005-2006 fiscal year shall be carried forward and allocated to this Non-departmental account for the 2006-2007 fiscal year.

 

            Second by Mr. Summer.  Vote was unanimous.

 

Mr. Summer requested that outside agencies provide audit reports to the County Administrator prior to receiving funding.

 

Mr. Morris requested that Mr. Pope review the provisos concerning the Emergency Services Board to see if some of those could be removed.

 

Mr. Morris requested that Mr. Klugh investigate the hauling of garbage and other debris to the Transfer Station by out of county persons and present a recommendation to County Council. 

 

Mr. Morris requested that items 3 and 4 on the agenda be deferred because of incomplete information.

 

[BREAK 3:46 P.M. – 3:56 P.M.]

 

Mr. Waldrop moved to go into Executive Session to discuss the building on Highway 219 without Mr. Baker, Mr. Pope or Sheriff Foster; second by Mr. Summer.  Vote was unanimous.

 

[EXECUTIVE SESSION 3:57 P.M. – 4:35 P.M.]

 

Mr. Morris moved to return to open session; second by Mr. Dawkins.  Vote was unanimous.

 

Mr. Dawkins moved to go into Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter; second by Mr. Waldrop.  Vote was unanimous.

 

[EXECUTIVE SESSION 4:35 P.M. – 4:45 P.M.]

 

Mr. Summer moved to return to open session; second by Mr. Waldrop.  Vote was unanimous.

 

There being no further business, Mr. Waldrop moved to adjourn; second by Mr. Morris.  Vote was unanimous.

 

Meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.

 

                                                                        NEWBERRY COUNTY COUNCIL

 

 

                                                                        ___________________________________

                                                                        Mike Hawkins, Chairman

 

 

                                                                        ___________________________________

                                                                        Susan C. Fellers, Clerk to Council