Council chairman: Rules were violated

Ordinance cut from agenda without notice

SUMMERVILLE — Dorchester County Council violated its meeting rules when it removed a controversial growth ordinance from committee consideration last Monday, Council Chairman Larry Hargett said Friday.

The allegations concern the county's proposed Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance, which would require developers to pay for studies that demonstrate that roads and schools could handle more people before new subdivisions are approved.

Council violated its meeting procedures by changing the agenda without prior notice to remove the ordinance out of committee and giving it second-reading approval without even having a copy of the ordinance they were voting on, Hargett said in a letter to residents Friday.

"This is both an embarrassment to and reflection of bad government for citizens when your elected County Council votes on a 'Ghost Ordinance' that has not been reviewed or read by Council for over three months," Hargett said in the letter.

He didn't plan to mail the letter. Instead he submitted it to the editorial pages of local newspapers and gave a copy to reporters.

Hargett said in an interview that he called a special council meeting for Aug. 13 to talk about the alleged violations. The violations could void council's 4-3 vote and put the ordinance back in the finance committee, he said.

Hargett is chairman of the finance committee. He kept the ordinance in committee while awaiting the results of a growth study the county commissioned, he said. He also says the ordinance, as written, is flawed.

"(The ordinance) as presently drafted is very poorly written and full of holes large enough to drive an 18-wheeler through," Hargett said in the letter.

Councilman Jamie Feltner made the motion to amend the agenda to bring the ordinance out of committee. He expressed no regrets Friday when told of Hargett's concerns.

"Over the last year, they've amended the agenda without notice probably 20 times," Feltner said. "It happens a lot."

Feltner also defended his move to pull the ordinance out of Hargett's committee. The ordinance was put in committee three months ago, and constituents have been wanting some action, he said. Residents are demanding council do something to make sure development doesn't continue to outpace roads and schools, he said.

"By pulling this ordinance out of a committee that has failed to act in over three months, we were able to provide an opportunity for more input and debate," Feltner said. "Obviously, there will be at least one public hearing, possibly more, before third reading on this ordinance. It is my hope that the citizens of Dorchester County will use this opportunity to make certain their voices are heard."

Reach Dave Munday at 745-5862 or dmunday@postandcourier.com.