[00:00:02]
WILL EVERYONE PLEASE TAKE THEIR PLACE? SURE.
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
EVERYONE.THIS IS A SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL ON MONDAY, JULY 24TH AT 10:30 AM BEFORE WE GO FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, WOULD THE CLERK TO COUNSEL PLEASE CALL THE ROLE COUNCIL MEMBER RES HERE.
COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON MARK LAWSON.
CHAIRMAN PASSMAN PRESENT AND WE DO HAVE A FULL COUNSEL TO CONDUCT THE BUSINESS.
WOULD YOU ALL RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, PLEASE? I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL PUBLIC.
NO NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.
[3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
WOULD A MEMBER OF COUNSEL MAKE A MOTION AND SECOND FOR THE APPROVAL OF TODAY'S AGENDA MOVE.MR. MCKELLEN MAKES THE MOTION, MS. TABER MAKES THE SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION? THIS WILL BE APPROVED WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
[EXECUTIVE SESSION]
I WILL ASK A MEMBER OF COUNSEL TO MOVE AND TO SECOND FOR THE FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO SOUTH CAROLINA CODE SECTIONS 30 DASH FOUR 70 A TWO AND 30 DASH FOUR 70 A ONE TO RECEIVE LEGAL ADVICE ON MATTERS COVERED BY THE ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE AND TO DISCUSS ISSUES RELATED TO THE EMPLOYMENT OF A PERSON REGULATED BY COUNSEL.MR. MCKELLEN MAKES THE MOTION.
MS. BROWN MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NO DISCUSSION? THIS WILL BE DONE WITHOUT OBJECTION AND I SEE NO OBJECTIONS.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO RETIRE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WHEN WE COME OUT, THERE MAY BE MATTERS ARISING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE ARE NOW RECESSED INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
WE ARE RETURNING FROM OUR EXECUTIVE SESSION.
[5. MATTERS ARISING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION]
THERE ARE MATTERS ARISING OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION OF COUNTY COUNCIL.LET ME BEGIN BY READING A STATEMENT ON MONDAY AFTERNOON, JULY 10TH, 2023, A MEETING WAS HELD IN THE EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE ROOM KNOWN AS OUR E C R.
AT THAT MEETING WAS MARK LAWSON AND ANNAMARIE TABER TABER, CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR OF THE FINANCE, ECONOMIC AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE.
MYSELF AND LARRY MCKELLAN, CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR OF COUNTY COUNCIL, ALONG WITH TOM KE COUNTY ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE COUNCIL AND BRITTANY WARD COUNTY ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE COUNTY.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING WAS TO DISCUSS ISSUES OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT CODES, BUDGETS, AND PCARD POLICIES AMONG OTHER ISSUES.
AFTER A LENGTHY DISCUSSION REGARDING THIS MATTER, IT WAS DECIDED THAT MS. WARD WOULD GATHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION REGARDING THESE MATTERS AND PRESENT THIS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO THE PEOPLE LISTED THAT THAT ATTENDED THAT MEETING.
UH, AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING, ANOTHER MEETING WAS HELD ON THURSDAY, JULY 20TH, 2023 TO REVIEW THE ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION REGARDING THESE ISSUES.
UPON REVIEW OF THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL SHOULD BE HELD TODAY TO SHARE THE INFORMATION WITH ENTIRE COUNCIL.
AS A RESULT OF THE EXECUTIVE SESSION, THE FOLLOWING MOTIONS ARE BEING CONTEMPLATED.
I'M GOING TO ASK A MEMBER OF COUNSEL TO MOVE INTO SECOND TO PLACE THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ERIC GREENWAY ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE
[00:05:01]
WITH PAY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE AND TO APPOINT ASSISTANT COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, JOHN ROBINSON TO SERVE AS ACTING COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DURING THIS TIME, MR. ROBINSON'S SUPPLEMENTAL COMPENSATION WILL BE $3,000 PER MONTH WHILE SERVING IN THIS CAPACITY.MAY I HAVE SUCH A MOTION? SO MOVE MR. CHAIRMAN.
MR. MCKELLEN MAKES THE MOTION.
IT HAS BEEN DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED.
BEFORE I HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THIS MOTION, IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL WHO WISHES TO MAKE A STATEMENT OR HAS A QUESTION? SEEING NONE, THE CLERK WILL MAKE THE ROLL CALL.
COUNCIL MEMBER BARTHOLOMEW? YES.
DID YOU DO MR. CUNNINGHAM? I THINK YOU MISSED HIM.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES.
MOTION AUTHORIZING FINANCE ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE TO CONTRACT WITH ONE OR MORE PROFESSIONALS OR PROFESSIONAL FIRMS TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH REVIEW OF ALL PURCHASES THAT HAVE OCCURRED SINCE JANUARY 1ST, 2023.
TO CONFIRM THAT THOSE PURCHASES COMPLY WITH THE COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT CODES TO IDENTIFY ANY PURCHASES THAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE COUNTY PROCUREMENT CODES TO BRING TO COUNCIL THOSE THAT DO NOT COMPLY AND PROVIDE A DESCRIPTION OF THOSE DISCREPANCIES.
FUNDING WILL COME FROM THE COUNTY'S CONTINGENCY FUND AND THE ACTING ADMINISTRATOR WILL BRING FORWARD A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO FUND THESE CONTRACTS IF NECESSARY.
MS. HOWARD MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTIONED AND SECONDED BEFORE WE TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE.
IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS MOTION? SEEING NONE, THE CLERK WILL PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COUNCIL MEMBER BROWN.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES.
A MOTION AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE TO CONDUCT WITH, TO, TO CONTRACT WITH ONE OR MORE PROFESSIONALS OR PROFESSIONAL FIRMS TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH REVIEW OF ALL CONTRACTS FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, WHICH THE COUNTY HAS ENTERED INTO SINCE JANUARY 1ST, 2023.
TO TO CONFIRM THAT THOSE CONTRACTS COMPLY WITH THE COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT CODES TO IDENTIFY ANY CONTRACTS THAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE CODES TO BRING TO COUNCIL THOSE THAT DO NOT COMPLY AND PROVIDE A DESCRIPTION OF THOSE DISCREPANCIES.
FUNDING WILL COME FROM THE COUNTY'S CONT CONTINGENCY FUND AND THE ACTING ADMINISTRATOR WILL BRING FORWARD A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO FUND THESE CONTRACTS IF NECESSARY.
MOTION AND SECONDED BY MS. HOWARD AND MR. BARAL, BEFORE WE TAKE A VOTE, IS THERE ANYONE WHO WISHES TO MAKE COMMENT ABOUT THIS MOTION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COUNCIL MEMBER HOWARD.
COUNCIL MEMBER LAWSON MARK LAWSON.
[00:10:01]
YES.MOTION AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE TO CONTRACT WITH ONE OR MORE PROFESSIONALS OR PROFESSIONAL FIRMS TO CONDUCT.
CONDUCT A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE BUFORT COUNTY'S PROCUREMENT CODES TO PROVIDE THE COUNTY WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR UPDATES, REVISIONS, NEW MEASURES OR OTHER CHANGES WHICH IT BELIEVES ARE NEEDED IN ORDER TO THIS TO STRENGTHEN THE PROCUREMENT CODE IF NEEDED.
FUNDING WILL COME FROM THE COUNTY'S CON COUNCIL'S CONTINGENCY FUND AND THE ACTING ADMINISTRATOR WILL BRING FORWARD A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO FUND THESE CONTRACTS.
THE MOTION SO MOVED MR. CHAIRMAN.
MS. KAEPERNICK MAKES THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.
BEFORE WE CALL THE ROLE, IS THERE ANY COMMENT BY ANY MEMBER OF COUNCIL? SEEING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE COUNCIL MEMBER HOWARD? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES.
THE MOTION PASSES NEXT MOTION.
A MOTION AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE TO CONTRACT WITH ONE OR MORE PROFESSIONALS OR PROFESSIONAL FIRMS TO CONDUCT AN AUDIT OF THE COUNTY'S PCARD SYSTEM FOR THE FISCAL YEARS 2019.
AND TO REPORT THE FINDING FINDINGS TO COUNCIL ALONG WITH RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CHANGES.
IF ANY FUNDING WILL COME FROM COUNCIL'S CONTINGENCY FUND, THE ACTING ADMINISTRATOR WILL BRING FORWARD A BUDGET ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO FUND THESE CONTRACTS IF NECESSARY.
MR. MCKELLEN MADE THE SECOND DULY MOTION AND SECONDED.
UH, BEFORE WE TAKE THE ROLE, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE COUNCIL MEMBER TABER? YES.
COUNCIL MEMBER CUNNINGHAM? YES.
FINALLY NEED TO SAY THAT WE REALIZE THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW THE REASONS OR REASONS THAT CAUSED US TO TAKE THE DECISIONS TO PLACE MR. GREENWAY ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE.
TO HIRE THE ACTING ADMINISTRATOR, TO CONDUCT THE VARIOUS, UM, ITEMS THAT WE HAVE PASSED MOTIONS ON AND RIGHTFULLY SO AND THAT WILL HAPPEN.
WE WILL GIVE YOU THE REASONS OR THE REASON UNFORTUNATELY, CONSISTENT WITH COUNTY POLICY.
WE CANNOT SAY MORE AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THIS IS AN ONGOING PERSONNEL MATTER.
OUR LEGAL ADVICE HAS TOLD US THAT WE COULD JEOPARDIZE OUR STANDING AT ANY TIME DISCUSSING A PERSONNEL MATTER UNTIL IT IS COMPLETED.
THERE WILL BE, THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT OPENLY AND FREELY AND WE WILL DO SO, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET.
SO PLEASE BE PATIENT WITH US AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS TOGETHER.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER ACTION BEFORE COUNCIL.
THIS MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED.