Berry's first meeting as mayor rifled with hurt, anger

City of Marion Mayor Rodney Berry presided over his first city council meeting inside a packed council chamber at City Hall May 12.

Though Berry said in his opening prayer he wanted the city to come together, his first vote turned out to be a divisive one.

Berry raised his hand to cast the tiebreaking vote in agreement with Council members Ronald Atkinson and Betsy Atkinson, electing Ralph Atkinson as the new Mayor Pro Tem.

The move replaces Bobby Davis, who served as Mayor Pro Tem for the past 15 years.

“A title doesn’t mean much to me,” Davis said, adding that he knew the moment was coming. “We also know there are some other things that we were told of that’s in the making as well.”

Davis said he doesn’t want the city to divide further in the future.

“We as a city must come together if we’re going to accomplish our goals … One of our first goals should be to seek better race relations,” Davis said.

Council member Poiette McGill Bromell commented that if everyone were to work together, they would have to be honest with one another.

Bromell called Berry and Betsy Atkinson’s swearing in ceremony hurtful, saying “From this moment on, if we’re going to have a gathering of this council and business conducted in council chambers, then all of us need to be given adequate notification.”

Bromell and Michael Baker, reelected without opposition, were sworn-in at the start of the May Council meeting by City Attorney Kenneth Davis. Berry and Atkinson were sworn-in on the Monday after the April 14 election on April 20 by Marion County Probate Court Judge T. Carroll Atkinson III.

Davis said the two swearing-in ceremonies gave the appearance of one for the black members elected and one for the white members.

Berry apologized to the council members, saying that he didn’t think about it and that it wasn’t his intent. “We are heading into a direction we don’t want to be in and we have got to come together,” Berry said.

Offering resolutions

Baker presented a Resolution of Appreciation to the family of Beulah Taylor Bradley. The former educator, who served for over 30 years, was honored for work in the community.

Berry presented a Resolution of Appreciation to Elizabeth Smoak for her accomplishments. The first grade student at Pee Dee Academy was crowned 2008 Wee Miss South Carolina.

Fred Gause, with the award winning Marion County Karate Studio, presented a film to council regarding the upcoming Youth Empowerment Day. Gause has been operating the studio and teaching classes since 2000 and said he is excited about the new activities coming soon.

The instructor partners with school districts and programs in the community, he said. In his proposal to council about the special day, Gause said he planned to distribute pamphlets to the visitors expected to arrive for the showcase that will include demonstrations, seminars and character development activities. The pamphlet will have city and county information, too, he said.

Council unanimously approved a motion to use $4,150 to help fund the event, tentatively scheduled for Aug. 22.

“It gives our kids something to work for during the summer,” Gause said about planning for the day.

“Before school starts back we just wanted to encourage them to do well,” he said, adding that the late Bobby Gerald and Davis participated in this past year’s program, along with Bromell.

Other business

In other business, Council introduced first reading of an ordinance authorizing the City of Marion Identity Theft program, which would protect customers’ utility accounts.

Council announced its plans to have a budget workshop on May 19 at 6:30 p.m.

Council listened to several public comments.
Liz Young operates a business on Main Street in Marion and told Council members that nothing is being done for businesses.
“We’re struggling just like everybody else. It’s nothing the City is doing for us as a whole,” she said.

Ed Mason addressed business development in the city, adding that citizens are seeing a steady decline. Mason said sales have dropped and taxes have increased, adding that there isn’t adequate parking downtown and there is no positive development.
“It appears that we are at a crossroads when it comes to downtown development,” he said, adding that high unemployment is a factor and something has to be done soon.

Janell Davis told Council members it was time to hire a director for the city’s recreation department. She said fewer children are participating in the programs and not much is offered to motivate them. A parent advisory committee and volunteer coaches is a needed, she said.

Pamela McRae voiced her frustrations with the local government, adding that she wanted to know why there was a division between council members.
After speaking for nearly eight minutes Berry ended McRae’s time to comment after she accused the mayor of refusing to hire a police officer who once ran for public office.
McRae was warned that she was taking too long in her comments after the first two minutes of speaking. “I’m looking for information and these are opinions. That’s why we allowed you to speak, to make comments that would make us more productive,” Berry said to McRae.

In other business, City Administrator Robert Anderson revisited the issue of addressing the City Web site. Anderson’s request to enter into a contract with DC3, not to exceed $9,414 was approved unanimously by Council after an executive session.

Anderson said the plan is to use $6,590 from hospitality tax funds to help fund the project.
“We are going to try and make this site at least 70 percent attractive to tourism,” he said, adding the monthly expenses to maintain the site will remain the same.

City of Marion Mayor Rodney Berry presents a resolution of appreciation to Pee Dee Academy first grader and 2008 Wee Miss South Carolina Elizabeth Smoak, standing beside her mother Ellen Smoak.

Marion City Council member Michael Baker presents a Resolution of Appreciation to the family of Beulah Taylor Bradley. The former educator, who served for over 30 years, was honored for work in the community.

It was standing room only as large crowd gathered inside Council chamber at City Hall for the May 12 City Council meeting.