Term Limits Get Green Light
BLYTHEWOOD – With only three of its four members present, Town Council amended its 2014 budget on Monday evening to reflect more accurately the operational losses it has incurred in the operation of Doko Manor this past year. The 2014 budget that was set last July projected a $20,000 loss in the Manor’s operating funds in the 2014 fiscal year, which ends June 30, but by December that loss was already at $22,000 and climbing. The adjustment revised the projected loss from $12,000 to $44,000 for General Maintenance/Service Supplies and from $33,000 to $49,000 for Program and Oversight Salaries for the fiscal year. Councilman Bob Massa, a CPA, had advised Council at a previous meeting that state law requires a budget adjustment when the budget veers from its projections by more than 5 percent.
Other revisions to the budget included: appropriation for Ground Maintenance was changed from $8,000 to $2,500; General Maintenance/Major Repairs from $10,000 to $5,000 and Utilities from $22,000 to $14,000. The changes will not go into effect until second reading, which will probably occur at the next meeting.
Term Limits
Council voted 3-0 to place limits on the number of terms for which an individual may be elected and reelected as Mayor or Town Council member. The idea was brought forward at the Dec. 16 meeting by then newly seated Councilman Tom Utroska. The suggestion was generally supported by Councilmen Massa and Bob Mangone, but opposed by Mayor J. Michael Ross. Although the Mayor was absent on Monday evening due to a pressing family matter, his opposition received strong support Monday evening from James Meggs, the Town’s interim administrator, who told the other Council members that “This ordinance has been promulgated by one of your colleagues. But you will note in the ordinance that you have been informed by your Town Attorney (who is also Meggs) that a South Carolina Attorney General has opined that term limits are beyond the proper scope of your authority.”
However, the opinion actually only states that “term limits are not authorized by state law.”
Meggs then reiterated, “I just wanted you to once again be clear that you at least have an Attorney General’s opinion that holds this is not an authorized effort by Town Council.”
“An opinion is just that,” Massa quipped after Meggs offered his advice.
Utroska added that, while he made the proposal for term limits, the suggestion was brought to him by citizens in the Town. Utroska also reminded Meggs that, “while the state may not have authorized term limits, neither has it prohibited them.” Council forthwith voted unanimously to prescribe term limits for elected officials of the Town.
Doko Manor Projections
After being named the new Events and Conference Center Director of the Manor by Town Council Monday night, Booth Chilcutt thanked Council for their confidence in him and gave them the long awaited first quarter projections they have been seeking from former Manor Director Martha Jones since late last fall. Chilcutt also outlined second quarter projections that he said will show some leveling out of expenses.
Referring to a projected income report he handed out to Council and members of the audience, Chilcutt reported income projections, based on scheduled events as of Feb. 17, at $15,654 through March and $15,667 for April, May and June, for a monthly average of $5,220. According to Massa, expenses for the Manor average $6,600 each month. Chilcutt said there are a total of 28 paid events and 48 unpaid events already on the books through March, but that beginning in April, there are 31 paid events and only 21 unpaid events for the second quarter. He said the number of unpaid events for February and March are skewed by the inclusion of 24 rehearsals for the Bravo Blythewood Community Theater. Asked by Massa why the rehearsals are being held for free at the Manor when they could just as easily have been held at Westwood High School where the play will be held, Booth said those arrangements were made before he became Director.
Utroska pointed out that “We’re spending about $28.46 an hour when this place is open and we’re having a lot of groups like this using it for free. We need to cover the outflow of expenses of this money pit. We need to be charging these ‘free’ groups for their costs – setup charges, the dance floor, etc. The room may be free but we have charges. If a group uses it for free for two hours, we need to be charging $30 an hour for our overhead plus any applicable fees for setup and use of equipment. We aren’t trying to make money. We’re trying to get to where we are not subsidizing someone’s party.”
Chilcutt agreed, saying, “Initially the vision was to make this a community based facility and a lot of people wanted to use it for free, but we have real costs involved that we need to monitor and control.”
While a 25 percent increase in rental fees has been proposed, Utroska said notice would be given to the public prior to Council implementing additional charges for both paid and unpaid events at the Manor.
Rules Changed for PC Appointments
In other business, Council passed final reading to amend provisions of an ordinance the Ross administration, with no public objections from Meggs (as Town Attorney), has repeatedly ignored pertaining to how applicants are recruited for the Planning Commission. The previous ordinance required the posting of notices of vacancies on the Planning Commission at least 30 days prior to appointment so that members of the public are adequately notified of vacancies in case they want to apply. Meggs has repeatedly stated that such requirements are overly complex and that the new ordinance simplifies the process. The new ordinance no longer requires public notification when vacancies occur, but provides for Council to advertise twice a year (January and July) for applicants for the Planning Commission. Council recently passed similar ordinances for the Board of Architectural Review and the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Council voted to go in to executive session to discuss negotiations incident to the proposed contractual arrangements for the Doko Depot Restaurant. No votes were taken following the executive session.
Council has scheduled a work session on March 14 at the Manor to further discuss ways to equalize the Manor’s expenses and other matters.
