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CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY BUFORT COUNTY.
I'D LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE COUNTY COUNCIL WORKSHOP.
PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE, ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
AND MS. BROCK, THIS MEETING HAS BEEN ADVERTISED IN COMPLIANCE OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, CORRECT? YES.
I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA FOR THIS WORKSHOP.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY COUNCILMAN PASSMAN AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMAN CUNNINGHAM.
ALL IN FAVOR BY SIGN OF HANDS TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.
WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AND I'D LIKE TO READ, UM, WHAT PUBLIC COMMENT FROM EVERY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC IS RECOGNIZED TO SPEAK SHALL LIMIT THEIR COMMENTS TO THREE MINUTES AND OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING PROTOCOL, ADDRESS THE CHAIRMAN, AND IN SPEAKING, AVOID DISRESPECT TO COUNSEL AND ANY PERSONALITIES.
CONFINE YOURSELF TO QUESTIONS UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF COUNSEL, AND BE MINDFUL AND RESPECTFUL OF THOSE WHO ARE PRESENT AND OTHERS WHO MAY BE WATCHING ON TELEVISION.
AND THE FIRST PERSON TO SIGN UP IS MR. ROBERT PRIEST.
OUR BEAUFORT COUNTY TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IS DESPERATELY IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT.
PLEASE ALLOW ME TO ADDRESS THE PROPOSED 2026 TRANSPORTATION SALES TAX REP REFERENDUM MORE PRECISELY THAN PROPOSED IMPLEMENTATION AND CONSTRUCTION METHODOLOGIES.
MY NAME IS ROBERT PRIEST, A TENURE VETERAN OF DAU ISLAND.
I HAVE BEEN SERVING ON THE BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT'S CLOCK FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS NOW.
AND HERE TO SHARE A BIT OF CAREFULLY CONSIDERED PROFESSIONAL INSIGHT.
THESE COMMENTS ARE SOLELY MY OWN.
THE 2024 SALES TAX WAS DEFEATED BY THE VOTERS 55 AGAINST AND 45 4.
WHY CLEARLY LOST TRUST RESULTING FROM THE FAILURE TO PERFORM JUST TWO OF THE 11 ROAD PROJECTS FROM THE 2018.
TRANSPORTATION TAX HAVE BEEN COMPLETED ALMOST EIGHT YEARS LATER.
THE CHALLENGE IS TO DELIVER TIMELY COST-EFFECTIVE IMPROVEMENTS IN A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE MANNER.
SIMPLY PUBLIC TRUST MUST BE RESTORED.
BUT HOW THERE'S NO NEED TO INVENT, REINVENT THE WHEEL.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS A WELL-PROVEN MODEL.
THEIR 2019 ISSUE COMPLETED ON SCHEDULE AND UNDER BUDGET.
THEIR 23 ISSUE CURRENTLY ON SCHEDULE AND ON BUDGET.
SO HERE'S OUR PROPOSED SOLUTION.
LET'S RIGHTSIZE THE SCOPE BECAUSE SMALLER BUDGETS IN SHORT, SHORTER TERMS ARE THE BEST WAY TO WIN BACK PUBLIC TRUST.
WE CALL THE SCHOOL DISTRICT STARTED WITH A $375 MILLION ISSUE AND THEN THE $439 MILLION ISSUE EACH OVER JUST FIVE YEARS.
THE PROPOSED $780 MILLION OVER NINE YEARS IS MASSIVE AND SHOULD BE STRATEGICALLY REDUCED IN SCOPE.
ONCE RIGHT SIZED, WE SHOULD FOLLOW THE SAME PROVEN MODEL THAT DELIVERS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SUCCESS, WHICH IS THROUGH EXPERT PLANNING AND DETAILED ESTIMATING.
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTNERED WITH A HIGHLY PROFESSIONAL, NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED EXPERT PROJECT AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FIRM VERY EARLY IN THE PROCESS, WHICH MINIMIZED THE DELAYS AND COST OVERRUNS THE COST OF A THIRD PARTY MANAGEMENT FOR THIS PROPOSED PENNY TAX.
AS THE LIST IS CURRENTLY PROPOSED, UH, IS ONLY IN A RANGE OF THREE TO 4% OF TOTAL BUDGET.
THIS IS REALLY, REALLY CHEAP INSURANCE TO ASSURE A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT.
NEXT, WE NEED TO BUILD THE RIGHT TEAM AND IS CRITICALLY CLAIMS MANAGEMENT BOOK.
GOOD TO GREAT AUTHOR JIM COLLINS OPINED THAT FOR A TEAM TO SUCCEED AND NOT ONLY TO HAVE THE RIGHT, YOU NOT ONLY HAVE TO HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE ON THE BUS, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE THEM IN THE RIGHT SEATS ON THE BUS WHILE COUNT.
OUR KEN ENGINEERS ARE JUST THAT ENGINEERS.
THEY'RE NOT CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONALS.
A DIFFERENT ALBEIT RELATED SET OF SKILLS.
ALLOWING THE PROJECT AND CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS TO MANAGE PROJECTS AND BUDGETS FREES UP THE COUNTY ENGINEER'S TIME AND RESOURCES TO DO THEY WHAT THEY DO BEST.
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PROJECTS WE CAN AFFORD.THE CAUTION HERE, FAILURE TO INCORPORATE THESE CONCEPTS WILL RESULT IN ANOTHER DEFEAT AT THE POLLS IN NOVEMBER.
FURTHER DELAYING DESPERATELY PROJECTS THAT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY SAVE LIVES.
FAILING TO LEARN FROM OUR HISTORY IS A GUARANTEE TO REPEAT IT.
AND I JUST, I DO HAVE A HANDOUT IF I MAY.
YOU CAN HAND IT TO, I HAVE ONE FOR EVERYBODY.
YOU WANT ME TO GO AROUND OR? SURE.
AND WE, AND WE'LL PUT, WE'LL HAVE ONE IN THE RECORD TOO.
ONLY GONNA PICK ONE NOW ANN, YOU KNOW THAT, WHICH WAS MY FAVORITE.
OH, IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
THESE ARE THE POSTERS THAT WE USED IN 2021 AND 2024.
WE WILL RECYCLE THEM IF NECESSARY.
SO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I SPOKE BEFORE CANCEL AND INDIVIDUALLY TO SOME OF YOU.
IN REFERENCE TO THE TST, IT HAS FALLEN ON DEAF EARS.
WE ASKED THAT PROJECTS BE LIMITED TO NECESSARY AND IMMEDIATE ITEMS AND NOT INCLUDE THE 2018 ITEMS. WE ARE ASSURED THAT CERTAIN PROJECTS IN THE 2018 LIST HAD BEEN ELIMINATED.
THEY ARE NOT, IN FACT, THEY'RE ON THE PETTY TAX SITE AS ON HOLD.
THAT'S TELLING US WHEN WE TURN OUR BACKS, YOU WILL VIOLATE PUBLIC TRUST AND YOUR PROMISES.
SOME MAY CALL THAT BACKSTABBING.
WE ASKED FOR A COMPLETED REFEREND BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC BEFORE ANY READINGS ARE REQUIRED.
HOW IN ALL GOOD CONSCIOUSNESS CAN YOU MAKE AN INFORMED VOTE ON ANY REFERENDUM WITHOUT KNOWING THE FULL PROPOSAL WITH EVERY I DOTTED AND T CROSSED? WHY DO SO WITHOUT KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE VOTING FOR? WHERE IS THE COMPLETED AND VETTED TEXT? WHERE ARE THE ACCOUNTING FIGURES AND BALANCE SHEETS FOR EACH ITEM? WHY NOT EMULATE WHAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS DONE WITH THE EXCELLENT GUIDANCE OF SUPERINTENDENT DR. FRANK RODRIGUEZ AND BOARD CHAIR COLONEL DICK GUYER? THEY PASSED A CAREFULLY PLANNED AND SUPERVISED BOND REFERENDUM IN 19 AND 23, BOTH ON TIME OR EARLY AND ON BUDGET, OR WITHOUT COSTING THE TAXPAYERS AN ADDITIONAL DIME.
YOUR REFERENDUM IS DESIGNED AND RUN BY ENGINEERS.
WHY THEY DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OR SKILLS OF A COMPETENT CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL TEAM.
UH, IF YOU DON'T KNOW ONE, MAYBE YOU SHOULD ASK.
UH, COLONEL GUYER AND, UH, DR. RODRIGUEZ, THE VOTERS TRUST THEM.
TODAY YOU ARE DISCUSSING THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC.
FROM WHERE I AM STANDING, WE PRETTY MUCH HAVE THE FULL GIST OF THINGS.
AND RIGHT NOW, YOU SPENT OUR DOLLARS TO EDUCATE US IN 2018, THE 21 AND 24 FAILURES, OUR PERFECT EXAMPLES OF YOU EDUCATING US.
SO GO AHEAD, VOTE YES AGAIN, FORWARD THIS REFERENDUM, AND WHEN WE VOTE, WE WILL DO SO WITH THE FULL KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR ACTIONS HERE.
WE REMEMBER WHEN WE ARE IN LOCKDOWN, OUT OF WORK, STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET DURING COVID, THIS COUNTY COUNCIL VOTED THEM A PAY RAISE WITHOUT ANYONE'S KNOWLEDGE.
'CAUSE WE WERE NOT PAYING ATTENTION THEN WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION NOW.
EIGHT OF YOUR SEATS ARE ON THE BALLOT.
THE CHOICE WE MAKE TO RETURN SOME OF YOU IS BEING MADE NOW BY WHAT YOU DECIDE HERE AND YOU DO AT THE SECOND READING.
ON OUR AGENDA THAT WAS APPROVED, NUMBER SIX IS DISCUSSION PRESENTATION OF ITEMS. THIS IS PRESENTATION ON PUBLIC INFORMATION, UM, VERSUS ADVOCACY GUIDELINES RELATED TO THE SALES TAX REFERENDUM PROCESS.
AND WE HAVE, UM, MS. BROCK, WHO'S GONNA INTRODUCE OUR, OUR SPEAKER TODAY IS SHE'S ONLINE AND READY.
AND DO YOU, UM, MS. WALKER, DO YOU WANT US TO WAIT TILL YOU'RE DONE AND THEN WE CAN ASK YOU QUESTIONS? DOES THAT WORK? YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS AS WE GO.
I JUST NEED THE ABILITY TO SHARE MY SCREEN.
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MY SCREEN.APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME TO DO THIS TODAY TOO.
CAN Y'ALL SEE THE SCREEN THERE? YES.
SO, BALLOT MEASURES, UM, AND THE ETHICS REFORM, THESE ARE SOME OF THE, THE MORE HIGHLY CONTESTED ISSUES THAT CAN COME BEFORE A A COUNCIL OR BOARD.
WHEN YOU HAVE A BALLOT MEASURE, THE ETHICS ACT COMES INTO PLAY AND IT COMES INTO PLAY IN TWO DIFFERENT, UM, IN TWO, IN TWO DIFFERENT STATUTES.
ALL OF THIS CAN BE FOUND ONLINE, UM, ON THE STATE HOUSE WEBSITE, BUT WHERE THE CODE OF LAWS IS LOCATED, WE'RE LOOKING AT SECTIONS 8 13 7 65, AND SECTION 8 13 13 46.
SECTION 8 13 76, 7 65 SAYS THAT THE USE OF GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL OR FACILITIES FOR CAMPAIGN PURPOSES, GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL PERMITTED TO WORK ON CAMPAIGNS ON OWN TIME.
SO ONCE THIS, ONCE THE ISSUE GOES, ONCE COUNCIL VOTES TO PUT THIS ISSUE ON THE BALLOT, THEN IT BECOMES A, A CAMPAIGN ISSUE.
AND YOU CANNOT USE ANY GOVERNMENT RESOURCES TO INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF THAT BALLOT MEASURE OF BALLOT MEASURE VOTE.
THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT GOVERNMENT, UM, EMPLOYEES, THAT STATE EMPLOYEES, OR THAT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS CANNOT ADVOCATE ON THEIR OWN TIME.
IT SIMPLY MEANS THAT THEY CANNOT USE GOVERNMENT RESOURCES TO DO SO.
IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT SECTION 8 13 13 46 OF THE ETHICS REFORM ACT, THE PERMANENT SECTION HERE, UM, IS SECTION C.
THIS SECTION DOES NOT PROHIBIT THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES BY A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY TO PREPARE INFORMATIONAL MATERIAL, CONDUCT PUBLIC MEETINGS, OR RESPOND TO NEWS MEDIA OR CITIZENS INQUIRIES CONCERNING A BALLOT MEASURE AFFECTING THAT GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY.
HOWEVER, A GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY MAY NOT USE PUBLIC FUNDS PROPERTY OR TIME IN AN, IN AN ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THE OUTCOME OF A BALLOT MEASURE.
THESE TWO STATUTES COME INTO EFFECT WHEN THE MATTER IS SENT TO THE VOTERS AS COUNCIL MEMBERS DURING THE DEBATE.
AS TO WHAT, AS TO WHETHER OR NOT TO PUT THIS MATTER ON THE BALLOT.
YOU CAN DEBATE THE PROS, THE CONS.
YOU CAN SAY WHY YOU DON'T NEED IT.
KEEP IN MIND THAT WHEN COUNCIL MUST ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO PUT A REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE VOTERS, SECTIONS 8 13 7 65 AND 8 13 13 46 DO NOT APPLY TO COUNCIL'S DEBATE ON THE ORDINANCE AS COUNCIL MUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOVE THE ISSUE FORWARD WHEN NOT OTHERWISE PROHIBITED.
HOWEVER, ONCE THE FINAL LEGISLATIVE DECISION RESTS WITH THE ELECTORATE, SECTIONS 8 13 7 65 AND 8 13 46 PROHIBIT COUNSEL FROM USING OR AUTHORIZING THE USE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES TO INFLUENCE THE, THE OUTCOME OF THAT RE REFERENDUM.
SO IT SOUNDS, CAN Y'ALL TELL ME EXACTLY WHERE Y'ALL ARE IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING THIS TO, UM, TO THE VOTERS? WE'RE ON SECOND READING TODAY.
WE'RE AT SECOND READING TODAY.
AND SO AS AS YOU WERE ON SECOND READING I, THIS, YOU CAN, AS COUNCIL MEMBERS, AS YOU DISCUSS THIS AT SECOND READING, YOU CAN DISCUSS WHY YOU THINK IT NEEDS TO GO TO THE VOTERS.
WHY YOU THINK YOU NEED THESE, THESE ISSUES TO BE BEFORE THE VOTERS.
ONCE YOU GET TO THIRD READING, AND ONCE YOU GET TO A POINT WHERE THE ISSUE IS, IF AT THE THIRD RING, IF IT PASSES AND Y'ALL PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT, AT THAT POINT IN TIME, YOU CANNOT ADVOCATE FOR OR AGAINST THESE BALLOT.
WHAT YOU CAN DO IS SHARE INFORMATION.
YOU SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THE MONEY WILL BE USED.
YOU CAN DESCRIBE THE BALLOT, MEASURE THE QUESTION, THE COST, THE TAX IMPACT, IMPACT THE SCOPE OF PROPOSALS.
YOU CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF PASSAGE OR FAILURE.
YOU CAN DISTRIBUTE FACT SHEETS, YOU CAN HOST INFORMATION SESSIONS, AND YOU CAN PROVIDE VOTER INFORMATION AND REMINDING EMPLOYEES AND CITIZENS TO VOTE IN ALL ELECTIONS.
UM, THAT YOUR, THE DISTRICT, THE SCHOOL SCHOOLS COUNT COUNTIES MAY UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA FOR EDUCATION AND DELIVERING INFORMATION, NOT FOR ADVOCATING, PERSUADING OR SOLICITING A YES OR NO VOTE.
WHEN YOU ARE SHARING THIS INFORMATION, MAKE SURE THAT THE INFORMATION IS NEUTRAL.
IF YOU EXPLAIN A BENEFIT OF THE PROPOSED REFERENDUM, YOU ALSO NEED TO EXPLAIN THE ASSOCIATED COST.
AND THIS SHOULD ALL BE IN THE SAME, UH, IN THE SAME COMMUNICATION, WHETHER THAT COMMUNICATION IS ORAL OR OR WRITTEN.
ALL OF THIS HAS TO BE NEUTRAL.
THE INFORMATION MUST BE UNIFORM.
YOU CANNOT USE TARGETED MAYOR MAILERS
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FOR DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE, OF THE COUNTY TO APPEAL TO WHATEVER YOU THINK THEIR NEEDS ARE.THIS NEEDS TO BE UNIFORM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
AND PLEASE REMEMBER THAT SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ARE HELD TO THE SAME STANDARDS AS MAILERS, FLYERS, AND WHATEVER INFORMATION YOU PUT ON YOUR WEBSITE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS SO FAR? I I HAVE A QUESTION AND THEN I'LL OPEN IT.
UM, TARGETED MAILERS, WOULD THAT BE LIKE MAILERS TO CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT MAY BE HAVING ISSUES WITH TRAFFIC OR CERTAIN CORRECT.
YOU NEED TO PUT IT, MAKE, MAKE THE, THE COMMUNICATION UNIFORM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
AND BECAUSE IF YOU START TA, IF YOU START TARGETING DIFFERENT AREAS BASED UPON WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE AND SAYING, HEY, WITH THIS, THIS GETS FIXED, IT SEEMS AS THOUGH YOU'RE TRYING TO PERSUADE THEM TO VOTE.
ANY OTHER, OTHER QUESTIONS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS? YEAH, SO JUST TO CLARIFY, IF WE DO IT ON OUR OWN TIME AND WITH OUR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA, WE STILL CAN'T DO IT.
NO, WE'RE GONNA GET TO THAT IN A SECOND.
AND THEN OUR, YOU SAID SOMETHING ABOUT FUNDS TOWARDS THE BEGINNING.
SO YOU'RE SAYING LELY, WE CAN'T USE FUNDS FROM THE COUNTY TO HIRE A FIRM TO ADVOCATE.
SO HOW DO OTHER PEOPLE GET AROUND DOING THAT? YOU CAN USE ONE.
IF THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE USING PUBLIC FUNDS TO, UM, TO ADVOCATE FOR OR AGAINST THE PASSAGE OF A REFERENDUM, I, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO FILE A COMPLAINT.
IF THEY ARE USING THEM SIMPLY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AS TO WHAT THE REFERENDUM MEANS OR WHAT IT WILL DO, THEN THAT IS PERMISSIBLE.
ANYONE ELSE? QUESTIONS SHOULD READY TO GO ON? OKAY.
ARE WE, ARE WE READY TO MOVE ON? YES, MA'AM.
FOR YOUR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES, REMEMBER THAT PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ARE ON THE CLOCK AT, WHILE THEY ARE ON THE CLOCK, THEY CANNOT ADVOCATE FOR OR AGAINST THIS, THIS REFERENDUM.
THEY CANNOT USE PUBLIC RESOURCES TO ADVOCATE FOR OR AGAINST.
THEY CAN'T USE THEIR CELL PHONE TO CALL TO, TO GET PEOPLE TO RALLY FOR OR AGAINST.
THEY CAN'T SEND OUT EMAILS, THEY CAN'T MAKE FLYERS ON THEIR COMPUTERS.
ANYTHING THAT INVOLVES A GOVERNMENT RESOURCE OR WHILE THEY'RE ON THE GOVERNMENT CLOCK, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED WHEN OFF OF THE CLOCK.
EMPLOYEES HAVE THE SAME FUNDAMENTAL CIVIL, CIVIL AND CIVIC RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS ANY OTHER CITIZEN.
AND SIR, HERE'S WHERE WE GET TO YOUR QUESTION.
FOR PUBLIC OFFICIAL CONSIDERATIONS, THIS IS EV EVALUATED DIFFERENTLY THAN PUBLIC EMPLOYEES BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT REALLY ON THE CLOCK OR OFF THE CLOCK WHILE YOU ARE DOING OFFICIAL BUSINESS.
IF YOU ARE GIVING A SPEECH IN YOUR OFFICIAL CAPACITY, IF YOU ARE AT A COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING, IF YOU ARE DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE, UM, WITH COUNTY EMPLOYEES IN A COUNTY BUILDING DURING BUSINESS HOURS, DO NOT ADVOCATE FOR OR AGAINST, DO NOT USE YOUR COUNTY EMAIL ADDRESS TO ADVOCATE FOR OR AGAINST.
OKAY? ON YOUR OWN TIME, ON YOUR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU TWO HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS AS EVERYBODY ELSE.
IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE A COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING, STAND OUTSIDE OF, OF THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE ON THE SIDEWALK AND SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT TO, THAT IS PERFECTLY FINE.
WHAT YOU CAN'T DO IS WHEN YOU ARE SERVING IN YOUR OFFICIAL CAPACITY, LIKE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW, SITTING BEHIND THE DA ACTING AS A COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER USING COUNTY RESOURCES, BEING THAT BUILDING THOSE LIGHTS, THOSE MICROPHONES, THE STREAMING CAPABILITY OR THE COUNTY TIME OF A COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING, YOU AT THAT POINT IN TIME CANNOT BE AN ADVOCATE.
ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THAT? I, I WISH I WOULD'VE KNOWN THAT A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
UM, AND SO NO, THIS, THIS DONE IT, THIS IS REALLY THE, WE COULD'VE ADVOCATED, I'M SORRY, I WAS SORRY.
I WAS TALKING TO TAB NEXT TO ME.
THAT MEANS WE COULD HAVE ADVOCATED FOR THIS IN OUR OWN PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA YEARS AGO WHEN WE WERE TOLD WE WERE NOT ALLOWED.
UM, SO YEAH, IT IS, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR COUNTY POLICIES ARE, SO LET ME REPHRASE THAT.
'CAUSE I, I DON'T WANNA OVERSTEP.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THE ETHICS ACT THAT PROHIBITS ANY PUBLIC, OFFICIAL PUBLIC MEMBER OR PUBLIC EMPLOYEE FROM ADVOCATING FOR OR AGAINST ANYTHING ON YOUR OWN TIME.
IT'S, IT'S THE COUNTY'S RESOURCES THAT THE ETHICS ACT SAFEGUARDS.
SO THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT, THAT I ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE MINDFUL OF.
IF AT ANY TIME YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING, FEEL FREE TO CONTACT THE ETHICS COMMISSION AND WE'LL BE HAPPY TO, TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT.
JUST MAKE SURE YOU CALL US BEFORE YOU TAKE WHATEVER THE ACTION IS.
DON'T CALL US AND SAY, HEY, LAST NIGHT AT THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING, I SAID THIS WAS THAT OKAY? WE, WE CAN'T TELL YOU THAT SOMETHING WAS OKAY
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AFTER YOU'VE DONE IT.BUT IF YOU, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD, UH, AN EVENT YOU WANT TO HOLD OR SOME SORT OF ADVOCACY FOR OR AGAINST THAT YOU, THAT YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN, AND YOU HAVE QUESTIONS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT, UM, DOING SO WOULD VIOLATE THE ETHICS ACT, YOU CAN ALWAYS CONTACT US AND WE WILL BE HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT IT.
UM, AS YOU ALL ARE AWARE, THESE ARE HIGHLY CONTESTED, HIGHLY VISIBLE, HIGHLY WATCHED ISSUES.
I CAUTION EVERY PUBLIC OFFICIAL AND PUBLIC EMPLOYEE TO TREAD CAREFULLY IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU NEVER GET IN TROUBLE FOR, FOR JUST CEASING YOUR ACTIONS AND NOT MOVING FORWARD UNTIL YOU HAVE A CLEAR AND DIRECT UNDERSTANDING AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN OR CANNOT DO SOMETHING.
BUT THAT IS REALLY THE, THE BOND AND REFERENDUM ISSUE IN A NUTSHELL.
YOUR OWN TIME, YOUR OWN MONEY FAIR GAME, THE GOVERNMENT'S TIME, YOU MUST REMAIN NEUTRAL.
APPRECIATE ALL THE INFORMATION.
LATER TONIGHT WE'RE AT STATION 300, LOGAN, AND WE'RE HAVING A REALLY GOOD TIME.
AND SOMEBODY SAYS, WE HEARD YOU ALL GOING OVER A REFERENDUM.
WE HEARD MISS ELLA SPEAK ON SOME THINGS AND HOW DO YOU FEEL? AND HERE WE HAD A COUPLE OF BOURBONS.
AT THIS POINT, WE'RE ON OUR OWN TIME.
WHAT DO WE
UM, EXCUSE MY IGNORANCE, I'M BECAUSE YOU'RE, BECAUSE THERE'S BOURBON INVOLVED.
I'M ASSUMING STATION 300 IS NOT A GOVERNMENT BUILDING.
WELL, LISTEN IS NOT A GOVERNMENT BUILDING.
LET'S MAKE SURE THAT'S VERY CLEAR.
BUT
THEY'RE NOT CONSIDERED IN THE ETHICS ACT.
WHAT THIS PROHIBITS, UM, EVERYONE IS THE USE OF GOVERNMENT RESOURCES BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE IN THE BUSINESS OF TIPPING THE SCALE IN FAVOR OF THIS REFERENDUM OR AGAINST THIS REFERENDUM.
ON YOUR OWN TIME, ON YOUR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU CAN, YOU CAN PUT A BULLHORN TO THE TOP OF YOUR CAR AS LONG AS IT'S NOT A COUNTY CAR.
AND RIDE AROUND THE COUNTY SAYING, VOTE YES, VOTE YES, VOTE YES.
IF YOU DO THAT SAME THING ON A COUNTY CAR, IT'S A VIOLATION OF THE ETHICS ACT.
I KEEP THINKING OF THE BLUES BROTHERS WHEN YOU SAID A BULLHORN ON TOP OF A HOOD CAR.
I THINK I'M BACK TO THE FUTURE VOTE.
MEGAN, IF WE WERE AFTER HOURS TO HOLD A MEETING AT ONE OF OUR FACILITIES TO INVITE THE PUBLIC TO, UM, PRESENT INFORMATION ABOUT THE REFERENDUM AND HAVE THE PUBLIC ASK US QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REFERENDUM, IS THAT ADVOCATING? AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT GET INTO PERSUASIVE COMMUNICATION, YOU ARE NOT ADVOCATING.
BUT IF YOU GET IN THERE AND YOU START SAYING THINGS LIKE, THIS IS WHY THIS WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA, THIS IS WHY WE NEED THIS, THIS IS WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO THE COUNTY.
YOU ARE ADVOCATING IT HAS TO BE STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE, NEUTRAL COST BENEFIT, COST BENEFIT COST CON.
COUNCILMAN CLOVER? UM, MS. UH, DEON, DO THE REAL QUICK QUESTION? YES, SIR.
UM, ADVOCATING ON MY OWN SOCIAL MEDIA, UM, USING PUBLIC TELEPHONE AND COMPUTERS IS PROHIBITIVE, RIGHT? CORRECT.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO ADVOCATE ON YOUR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU NEED TO ACCESS THAT SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE ON YOUR OWN COMPUTER OR ON YOUR OWN TELEPHONE.
ALRIGHT, MS. JASON, LEMME PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
SO, UM, TO, TO KEEP IT SIMPLE, AND THIS IS WHAT I'VE SAID, UH, PREVIOUSLY, IS THAT IF, UM, YOU DO NOT THINK WE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR ROADS, EVERYTHING'S FINE THE WAY THEY ARE, THEN VOTE NO FOR THIS REFERENDUM.
IF YOU THINK THAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE AND START TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE, VOTE YES.
IS, IS THAT NEUTRAL? IS THAT ADVOCATING BOTH SIDES THAT NO, I THINK YOU'RE ADVOCATING FOR PROBABLY IN THAT STANCE MAINLY BECAUSE YOU'RE, THE, THE INFORMATION NEEDS TO BE, UM, COMPLETE AS WELL.
WHEN YOU SAY VOTE FOR, YOU ALSO NEED TO TELL THEM THE COST OF WHAT VOTING FOR MEANS.
IF YOU VOTE, IF YOU VOTE YES, THIS MEANS THAT THIS WILL GO, THIS, THIS RATE OR THIS TAX OR WHATEVER IT IS, WILL BE INCREASED BY THIS AMOUNT.
AND THEN WE WILL DO THIS THING AND THEN WE WILL DO THESE THINGS WITH IT.
YOU, YOU HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE WHAT VOTING YES MEANS AND WHAT VOTING NO MEANS,
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INCLUDING DOLLARS AND CENTS.ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS.
AND, AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, THAT'S IF YOU'RE DOING IT ON GOVERNMENT TIME, IF YOU'RE DOING IT ON YOUR OWN TIME, YOU CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT.
IF YOU'RE DOING IT WITH YOUR OWN RESOURCES, YOU CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT.
IT'S ONLY IF YOU ARE USING A GOVERNMENT RESOURCE, SIR, TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT.
UM, THIS IS ANOTHER, FOR INSTANCE, YOU'RE IN SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS AND ONE OF YOUR FELLOW CHURCH MEMBERS SAYS, ARE YOU GONNA VOTE FOR THE REFERENDUM? YES OR NO? AND YOU SAY, WHATEVER YOU SAY IS THAT, THAT'S NOT ADVOCATING.
YOU'RE JUST GIVING 'EM A YES OR NO ANSWER.
YOU'RE GIVING THEM A YES OR NO ANSWER.
BUT AGAIN, AT SUNDAY SCHOOL, AS LONG AS IT DOESN'T MATTER, AS LONG AS BEAUFORT COUNTY ISN'T THERE DOING SUNDAY SCHOOL.
YOU, YOU CAN, YOU CAN ADVOCATE EITHER WAY.
SO MEGAN, THIS IS TAB, SO HOW MANY, UM, LETTERS DO YOU GET FROM THE PUBLIC WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN ADVOCATE ON YOUR OWN TIME, YOUR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA VERSUS GOVERNMENT TIME? I'M SURE YOU GET THESE.
SO, SO I MEAN, WE'LL, WE WILL GET QUESTIONS SOMETIMES, UM, IN TERMS OF PHONE CALLS AND, AND I, I CAN'T GIVE YOU A NUMBER.
IF WE GET A COMPLAINT AGAINST A PUBLIC OFFICIAL AND THEY'RE SAYING, HEY, THIS PUBLIC OFFICIAL WAS AT BIBLE STUDIES TELLING PEOPLE TO VOTE YES OR VOTE NO, THAT'S NOT A COMPLAINT THAT I WOULD OPEN.
IF THEY SAY THE PUBLIC OFFICIAL WAS AT THE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING TELLING PEOPLE TO VOTE YES OR VOTE NO, THAT'S A COMPLAINT THAT I WOULD OPEN.
CAN I ASK A QUESTION TO CLARIFY MICROPHONE? YES.
UM, MS. DAON, THIS IS, UH, BRIAN HOLBERT, THE COUNTY ATTORNEY.
IF THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS USE THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA, THEIR PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA, NOT THEIR GOVERNING MEDIA, UH, GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS, BUT THEY IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS A BEAUFORT COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER, IS THAT OKAY? OR IS THAT A VIOLATION? AS LONG AS, LONG AS THEY AREN'T USING A GOVERNMENT RESOURCE TO DO SO, THEY CAN DO THAT AS LONG AS THEY CAN SAY, HEY, I'M COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER SO AND SO, THIS IS MY PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE.
AS LONG AS THEY RUN IT NO EXPENSE TO THE, TO THE COUNTY TAXPAYER, THEY, THEY CAN ADVOCATE FOR OR AGAINST.
AND THE NEXT QUESTION, ARE YOU OKAY IF I SURFACE OR RESURFACE THOSE TWO ETHICS OPINIONS THAT ADDRESS THESE TWO ISSUES? I WAS GOING TO EMAIL THEM TO YOU ANYWAY IN HOPES THAT YOU WOULD RE CIRCULATE THOSE.
SO I APPRECIATE YOU JUMPING THE GUN ON THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NO, THAT'S GOOD.
WE, WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND, UM, ONE MORE.
YEAH, DRE, UM, I HAVE A, A, UH, EMAIL, PERSONAL EMAIL MM-HMM
AND I CAN USE THAT ON, UM, MY PERSONAL COMPUTER OR I CAN USE IT ON A COUNTY'S COMPUTER.
UM, IF I SET IT OFF ON A PERSONAL COMPUTER, BUT I READ IT AND RESPOND BACK ON MY COUNTY COMPUTERS, THAT HOW IS, HOW WOULD YOU HANDLE THAT? YOU CANNOT USE A GOVERNMENT RESOURCE IN THIS AT ALL.
THE COMPUTER, THE COUNTY'S COMPUTER IS A GOVERNMENT RESOURCE.
SO I CAN'T EVEN, I CAN READ IT THOUGH.
I JUST CAN'T REPLY BACK TO IT.
BECAUSE I MEAN, YOU, YOU GOTTA REMEMBER WITH METADATA AND IP ADDRESSES EVERYTHING THAT YOU, EVERYTHING YOU TOUCH IS GONNA SHOW EXACTLY WHAT DEVICE YOU WERE USING WHEN YOU TOUCHED IT.
MEGAN, IF I PREPARE A DOCUMENT ON MY OWN COMPUTER, PRINT IT ON MY OWN PRINTER AND USE IT FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, IS THAT PERMISSIBLE? YES, SIR.
IF IT'S YOUR OWN COMPUTER, IF YOUR OWN PRINTER AND YOUR OWN PAPER, YOU CAN USE IT FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES OR YOU CAN USE IT TO ADVOCATE IF IT'S YOUR, IF IT'S YOUR STUFF, I DON'T HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THAT.
THE DISTINCTION REALLY IS THE RESOURCE AND IS IT A PRIVATE RESOURCE OR IS IT A PUBLIC RESOURCE? PUBLIC RESOURCES ARE OFF LIMITS.
THIS IS VERY HELPFUL AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND, UM, I'M HOPING WE CAN GET YOUR SLIDES TO PUT IN WITH OUR PACKET SO WE CAN HAVE IT FOR REFERENCE LATER TOO.
DAON, IT'S DAON, RIGHT? YES, MA'AM.
IF Y'ALL, IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS IN THE FUTURE, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL US AND, AND WE WILL WALK YOU THROUGH IT.
BUT KEEP IN MIND NO, DO NOT TOUCH A GOVERNMENT RESOURCE AS YOU ARE NAVIGATING THESE WATERS.
[00:30:01]
ARE COMPLETELY OFF LIMITS.THAT THAT IS THE HEADLINE OF THIS PRESENTATION.
I THINK YOU MADE IT REALLY CLEAR TO US.
I APPRECIATE Y'ALL WORKING WITH MY SCHEDULE AND ALLOWING ME TO DO THIS VIRTUALLY.
UM, IF I CAN, IF I CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE, JUST LET ME KNOW.
THANK YOU THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS FOR THIS WORKSHOP.
I'VE TAUGHT YOU EVERYTHING I KNOW, BUT ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT WILDFIRES.