FLORENCE — Florence City Council introduced a proposal Monday to hold its regular meeting at night every other month.
The original ordinance, proposed by Councilman Billy D. Williams, called for council to hold two regular meetings a month — one at 1 p.m. the first Monday of the month, as it does now, and a second the last Monday evening of the month.
Williams said night meetings would allow more residents to participate in the process. He said holding a second meeting would shorten meetings.
“When I started on this council, we always had two meetings a month,” Williams said. “One of my problems is these six-hour meetings we’ve been having. I just want to slim down these meetings.”
Councilman Buddy Brand amended Williams’ motion to stay with one meeting a month, but rotate that meeting between the afternoon and evening hours.
“I have no problem whatsoever with night meetings, but I don’t think having two meetings is going to make one bit of difference,” Brand said. “We could still have two meetings with just as many controversial items on the agenda.”
Brand’s amended motion calling for a night meeting every other month was approved, 4-2, with Brand, Mayor Stephen J. Wukela, Council members Steve Powers and Octavia Williams-Blake voting in favor. Williams and Councilman Ed Robinson voted against the proposal.
Robinson said he’d like to see the council go to two meetings a month.
“I don’t have a problem with nine or 10-hour meetings if that’s what it takes to get things done,” Robinson said. “If we work together more often, I think things will work better.
“We’re so adversarial in here. We’re just fighting for no reason. That’s why our meetings are so long. If we could be congenial and work together, I’m sure we could shorten our meetings. And if we worked together more often, we could get more done.”
If second reading of the ordinance passes in January, the new schedule will take effect in February.
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