Mayor Bill Collins might have broken Summerville short meeting record

SUMMERVILLE — Just one of the legacies Berlin Myers left from his four decades as mayor was a sharp-gaveled, no-nonsense approach to Town Council meetings.

The businessman didn’t like to waste time and seemed at times to work through an agenda faster than it could be read. Longtime observers would tell you the informal meeting record was seven minutes, rap to rap.

Two-year Mayor Bill Collins, the loquacious former newspaper editor, might have the legend beat. Wednesday’s meeting, with little on the agenda and few people wanting to speak, was over so quickly it seemed the opening Pledge of Allegiance recital still echoed off the wall. Clock watchers nodded sagely — seven minutes.

Councilman Aaron Brown complimented Collins on a frugal meeting. Collins grinned.

“Thank you. I didn’t mean to run this long,” he said.