Special called meeting of council scheduled for 5:15 p.m., Monday, Feb. 3
BLYTHEWOOD – Blythewood Mayor Sloan Griffin has issued an Executive Order to implement the reinstatement of positions and employees (with back pay) recently defunded by council.
[According to Councilman Rich McKenrick, a special called meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 3, at Doko Manor relative to this Executive Order.]
The order was emailed to council members and other staff members at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31. The Voice obtained a copy of the order which comes a week after the S.C. Attorney General issued an opinion stating that as the mayor in a mayor-council form of government, Mayor Griffin has the authority to establish employee positions and to fill them as he sees fit to meet the community’s needs. The Attorney General opined, however, that council is authorized to approve funding for those positions through the budget process, with the caveat that council cannot do it in such a way that would completely strip the mayor’s powers under SC Statute 9-5-30, which lists the powers the mayor has under the mayor-council form of government.
But the Attorney General stopped short of expressing an opinion as to whether the council’s defunding of positions filled by Griffin actually stripped the mayor of his ability to perform his statutorial duties.
In the order Griffin issued on Friday, he referenced the Attorney General’s opinions as authority for his agenda.
“I am writing to formally inform you that, pursuant to the Attorney General’s Opinion, I have issued Executive Order No. 3, which reinstates previously defunded and eliminated administrative positions within the Town of Blythewood, effective Tuesday, February 4, 2025,” Griffin wrote in the Executive Order.
Griffin said that council’s defunding of key administrative positions “has increased the burden on the Office of the Mayor, significantly impacting the ability to efficiently carry out the duties and responsibilities afforded to the mayor in a Mayor-Council ‘Strong Mayor’ form of government (S.C. Code Ann. § 5-9-30). This Executive Order is a necessary corrective action to restore operational effectiveness and ensure the continued stability of municipal functions.
According to Media Attorney Jay Bender, who represents the S.C. Press Association, there is no ‘Strong Mayor’ form of government, but a mayor-council form of government in which the mayor serves as executive administrator.
The following are key provisions of Griffin’s Executive Order No. 3:
- Reinstatement of Defunded Positions: Employees previously terminated due to budget amendments will be rehired and restored to their prior roles with back pay.
- Allocation of Funds: Budgeted administrative salary funds will be utilized as initially appropriated to facilitate the reinstatement.
- New Position Creation: This order also establishes Three Part-Time Public Works Positions under the Clean Sweep Blythewood Initiative to enhance public space maintenance and cleanliness.
- Commitment to Collaboration: Moving forward, I remain committed to working with the Town Council to uphold the integrity, efficiency, and operational capacity of our government.
Reinstated Positions:
- Deputy Town Administrator (formerly Assistant Town Administrator)
- Human Resources Specialist
- Economic Development/Annexation Coordinator
- Administrative Assistant
Griffin said the order takes effect immediately, and that impacted employees will return to their roles on February 4, 2025 [next Tuesday.]
“I appreciate your cooperation in ensuring a smooth transition as we strengthen our town’s administration,” Griffin wrote in the email.
