EDITORIAL: Fewer council meetings don’t mean you are missing out

During Darlington County Council’s Aug. 17 meeting, council curtailed the number of public meetings on its calendar with only one dissenting vote. The possibility of cutting council’s regular meeting schedule from two meetings a month to one a month is nothing new, according to Chairman Wesley Blackwell.

“It’s not that we’re not working,” said Blackwell on Monday. He said there is a lot of work that can be done outside of an officially called meeting. He noted that committee meetings are continuing as planned.

With the budget process complete, Blackwell said, the number of ordinances council is considering tends to be quite small during this time of year. The timing also reflects that many of the dates would have fallen near holidays, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Councilwoman Wilhelmina Johnson voted against the change. She said council has too much work backed up and not enough is getting done now.

“To say we can afford not to meet, I’ve got a problem with that,” Johnson said.

Legally, though, council is required to meet just once a month.

Three readings and a public hearing are still required for an ordinance to pass. The process will just take longer. State law requires at least seven days in between the second and third readings and that all readings must be done on separate days.

Council has the ability to call emergency meetings and adopt emergency ordinances, but these cannot levy taxes or change a service rate. These types of ordinances would expire automatically as of the 61st day following their enactment.

County council meetings are scheduled for the rest of the year for 6 p.m. Sept. 21, Oct. 5, Oct. 19, Nov. 16 and Dec. 7. Additional meeting dates can be added back onto the calendar as needed.

Residents still have a say in what is done in this county regardless of how many official meetings are held. Many residents don’t want to or cannot attend meetings due to transportation issues or scheduling conflicts. They should not feel left out and neither should you.

Have a question about what your council members are doing? Ask. If you see an issue that needs to be addressed, let someone know who can either do something about it or help you do something about it.

You can contact your representative on council by phone or write an old-fashioned letter (see the list below). Council members often write detailed letters in return.

If you feel your representatives aren’t working for your interests, find a candidate who does or run for office yourself. Filing for mayor and city council seats for Districts 1, 3 and 5 continues until noon Sept. 4 at City Hall. The next county council seats are up in 2010.

Don’t forget to register to vote either. Anyone wishing to vote in the upcoming elections must be registered by Oct. 3. The city elections will take place on Nov. 3.

Democracy only works well when we are all involved and informed.

County Council Contact Information

Mr. Billy Baldwin, Vice Chairman
202 Green Drive
Darlington, SC 29532
843-393-5314 (h) 
Dist. #1 - Darlington
Mr. Dannie Douglas, Chaplain
3333 N. Governor Williams Highway
Darlington, SC 29540
843-393-0265 (h)
Dist. #2 - Society Hill
Mrs. Wilhelmina P. Johnson
Post Office Box 243
Darlington, SC 29540
843-395-0431 (h) 843-393-9762 (o) 
Dist. #3 - Darlington
Mrs. Anne C. Warr
Post Office Box 828
Lamar, SC 29069
843-326-7215 (h) 
Dist. #4 - Lamar

Mr. Marvin Le Flowers
1920 Harry Byrd Highway
Darlington, SC 29532
843-393-7904 (h) 843-393-0495 (w)
Dist. #5 - Swift Creek Area
Ms. Mozella “Pennie” Nicholson
1905 Elmwood Street
Hartsville, SC 29550
843-383-9238 (h)
Dist. #6 - Hartsville
Mr. Alex “Buz” Shaw
Post Office Box 815
Hartsville, SC 29551
843-332-7450 (h) 
Dist. #7 - Hartsville/Kelleytown

Mr. Wesley Blackwell, Chairman
609 Colony Road
Hartsville, SC 29550
843-332-7203 (h) 843-307-2776 (cell)
Dist. #8 - Hartsville