Brock suit: Town Council violated information act

MOUNT PLEASANT — Planning Commission member Steve Brock has filed suit against the town, alleging that Town Council repeatedly violated the state Freedom of Information Act.

He is asking that a circuit court judge issue an injunction to prevent future violations.

Town Attorney Allen Young said Tuesday that he will brief council on the suit today in an executive session.

Young said the allegations are unfounded. "The town will make an appropriate and vigorous response."

Brock did not comment on the suit.

Filed June 10, the suit asks the court to declare that council violated the FOIA in certain instances, such as gathering as a quorum without giving public notice, amending agendas at the last minute, inaccurately describing the purpose of closed-door sessions and debating a pending ordinance in e-mail messages.

Since last June, 12 meetings of the four-member Planning and Development Committee included five or more members of council, which constituted a quorum. The public was not notified that a majority of council was meeting, the suit states.

On Nov. 16, at an executive session to discuss "personnel matters related to boards and commissions," members considered punitive action against Brock for seeking a state attorney general's opinion to clarify the relationship between Town Council and the Planning Commission regarding changes to the Comprehensive Plan, the suit states.

The suit alleges council violated the FOIA because it amended the Nov. 16 meeting agenda to include the executive session items without giving 24 hours notice. Council, which appoints Planning Commission members, never took action against Brock. He since has stepped down as commission chairman.

Brock sought an Oct. 22 state attorney general's opinion that said council changes to the town Comprehensive Plan must be approved by the Planning Commission. Brock said in a Nov. 14 letter to the editor of the Moultrie News that Berkeley County conducts business that way. "Since that is not the process in Mount Pleasant, I wrote the Attorney General for an opinion," Brock said in his letter.

In response, Mayor Harry Hallman sent a letter to Brock saying that he should consider resigning because of his disrespectful and confrontational attitude toward council.