Town Election July 29

NOTICE OF GENERAL ELECTION

TOWN OF JAMES ISLAND

JULY 29, 2014

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that The Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Charleston County will conduct a General Election  for the Town of James Island on Tuesday, July 29, 2014 to fill (1) one seat for the Office of Mayor, (4) four seats for the Office of Town Council. This is a nonpartisan, at large municipal election. Election results will be determined by the plurality method. Term of office will expire August 2018.

The last day that persons may register to be eligible to vote in this election is June 28, 2014. If submitting a registration by fax or mail application, it must be post marked no later than June 28, 2014.

Applications may be obtained at http://www.scvotes.org.

Candidate filing opens 12:00 noon Monday, May 19, 2014 and closes 12:00 noon Friday, May 30, 2014. Filing fees for the Office of Mayor is $150, and Town Council is $100. Filing fees are non-refundable.

Residents desiring to file as a candidate for the Office of Mayor or Town Council must file a Statement of Candidacy with the Town of James Island, Town Clerk, 1238 B, Camp Road, James Island SC. Office hours are Monday – Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Closed on Memorial Day, May 26, 2014.

Please direct all questions to the South Carolina State Ethics Commission regarding filing of Statement of Economic Interest form. Their website is http://ethics.sc.gov/campaigns/Pages/index.aspx.

Their office telephone number is (803) 253-4192.

This Municipal Election will be held under new rules for providing Photo ID at the polling place. Voters will be asked to provide one of the following Photo IDs:

·         South Carolina Driver’s License

·         ID Card issued by S.C. Department of Motor Vehicles

·         S.C. Voter Registration Card with Photo

·         Federal Military ID

·         U.S. Passport

If you have one of these IDs, you are ready to vote. Voters should remember to bring one of these IDs with them to the polling place. Voters without Photo ID can get one free of charge from the Department of Motor Vehicles or their county voter registration office. Voters who encounter an obstacle to getting a Photo ID should bring their paper voter registration card without a photo with them to their polling place. These voters can then sign an affidavit swearing to their identity and to their reason for not obtaining a Photo ID.

These voters will be issued a provisional ballot. This ballot will count unless the county board of canvassers has grounds to believe the affidavit is false. For more information on Photo ID, please visit scVOTES.org, or contact your county voter registration and elections office.

Registered voters who cannot vote in person may be eligible to vote by absentee ballot. Absentee ballots may be obtained from the Board of Elections and Voter Registration of Charleston County. You may call 744-8683 or send an email to absentee@charlestoncounty.org to inquire about the availability of absentee ballots.

At 9:00 a.m. on Election Day, the Board of Elections and Voter Registration office will begin the examination of the absentee ballot return envelopes. This process will take place at the elections office, 4367 Headquarters Road, North Charleston, SC.

On Thursday, July 31, 2014 at 10:00 a.m., the Charleston County Board of Canvassers will hold a hearing to determine the validity of all provisional ballots cast in this election, and certify election results. This hearing will be held at the elections office, 4367 Headquarters Road, North Charleston, SC.

The following precinct and polling place will open from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm.

James Island 03	Thomas Johnson Field House	1443 Secessionville Rd
James Island 05A	James Island Charter High	1000 Fort Johnson Rd
James Island 05B	James Island Charter High	1000 Fort Johnson Rd
James Island 06	James Island Charter High	1000 Fort Johnson Rd
James Island 07	James Island Charter High	1000 Fort Johnson Rd
James Island 08A	Fort Johnson Middle	1825 Camp Rd
James Island 08B	Fort Johnson Middle	1825 Camp Rd
James Island 09	Fort Johnson Middle	1825 Camp Rd
James Island 10	James Island Charter High	1000 Fort Johnson Rd
James Island 11	Stiles Point Elementary	883 Mikell Dr
James Island 12	Stiles Point Elementary	883 Mikell Dr
James Island 13	Stiles Point Elementary	883 Mikell Dr
James Island 14	James Island Recreation Complex	1088 Quail Dr
James Island 15	James Island Middle	1484 Camp Rd
James Island 17	Harbor View Elementary	883 Mikell Dr

Charleston County Library Proposal

The Charleston County Library Board has proposed a multi-million dollar referendum to upgrade libraries across Charleston County.   For James Island, the key change will be to replace the James Island branch located on Camp Road next to Town Hall.   The new library is to be somewhere on Folly Road.   No location has been specified.   The James Island Intergovernmental Council met Monday, April 21 and unanimously requested that County Council insist that any referendum include a specific location for the Library on Folly Road.   Please contact County Councilman Joe Qualey and County Councilwoman Anna Johnson if you would like to see the existing branch on Camp Rd renovated rather than closed.  Here is a link to the library proposal.

Funding Folly and Camp Project Approved

Charleston County Council voted to move funds to the Camp and Folly project.   Thank you Councilman Qualey and the majority of County Council.   Also, a County staff report explained that the key problem with the existing budget was an underestimate of the cost of the right of way that needed to be taken from the businesses along Folly Rd.   Other issues included the need to move utility lines and the cost of doing the work at night in order to limit traffic delays.    The project will be rebid this summer.

James Island Intergovernmental Council Meeting

The James Island Intergovernmental Council met for the third time last night.    Senators Thurmond and Campsen were in attendence.   Our special guest was five day old Peter McCoy the third, who arrived with Representative Peter McCoy and his wife Jennifer.    Councilman Joe Qualey represented County Council and all three members of Charleston City Council form James Island, Councilwoman Wilson and Councilmen Moody and Gregory.    Carter McMillan represented the James Island PSD.   For the Town, Councilmen Blank, Kernodle, and Mullinax were all there.

Councilman Qualey discussed the Camp and Folly Road improvement project.   The project is ready to go, but there is a problem.   It has been bid out twice, and the low bids are more than the amount of funds budgeted.   Fortunately, the Maybank and Rivers project had to be scaled down and more is budgeted than will be necessary.   Councilman Qualey is seeking to shift some of those funds to Camp and Folly.   The proposal almost died at the Finance Committee due to a tie, but Chairman Teddie Pryor let it go forward.   Councilman Qualey is confident that there are enough votes for it to pass tonight.

Councilman Qualey also discussed the proposed library referendum.   This proposal is for a referendum this November for more than $100 million to construct and renovate libraries throughout the County.   Part of the proposal is to build a new library somewhere on Folly Road.    Initially, the proposal included closing both the South Windemere and James Island branches.   Councilman Qualey reported that the South Windemere branch would not be closed due to the intervention of County Councilwoman Colleen Condon.   He was very troubled that no site had been selected for the new library on Folly Road.   The other new libraries to be constructed as part of the project already have proposed sites.   He also reported that he attended the a meeting at the James Island branch and the people there wanted to keep it.    The Council voted unanimously that County Council should include a site for the Folly Rd. library in any language for the library.

Councilman Blank reported on the Folly Road overlay.    It has been approved by the Town of James Island, Charleston County has passed first reading, and the City of Folly Beach approved it as well.   Unfortunately, it has not been put before Charleston City Council.    He reported a conversation from Christopher Morgan from City of Charleston Planning, holding out some hope for City action.   Councilman Qualey reported that Tim Keane, who is senior to Christopher Morgan, said that the City used a design review board rather than overlay districts.    Councilman Blank emphasized that we were most interested in getting consistency with signage with the City.   I emphasized elements of the overlay regarding the setbacks.   I pointed out that near Folly and Camp was mostly Town but there are some city properties.    Some consistency in standards would be desirable.   The members of City Council were genuinely concerned and said they would see what can be done.

Senator Thurmond reported on Senate bill 723.   He said that he would be meeting with Senator Kimpson soon and had hopes the he would remove his objection to the bill .  However, he is still worried about Senator Scott.   Senator Campsen explained some of the challenges in getting legislation through of the Senate.   He explained that it is challenging to design a bill that will minimize worries in other parts of the state while not being subject to legal challenge as special legislation.   He said that Senator Thurmond's task in the "off season" is to seek to further finesse the bill.     On the House side, Representative McCoy said that a subcommittee meeting had been scheduled and he saw no problem with amending the bill to make it consistent with the Senate version.

Camp and Folly Project Funding

The Camp and Folly project has been bid out twice, but all the bids have been higher than the budgeted funds.   The "pitchfork" plan for Maybank on Johns Island has not received approval and so the project is being downsized.   This frees up money from that project to fund Folly and Camp.    Councilman Qualey has been leading the effort to shift the funds to Camp and Folly and it barely passed the Finance Committee last week.   Councilwoman Anna Johnson opposed shifting these funds for this project.   The vote will go before County Council Tuesday.

Dates for Harbor View Road Project

Tentative Dates for Harbor View Road Project

May 22^nd Advertise for construction bids

July 10^th Receive bids and make recommendation to Council to award

July 29^th Issue a notice to proceed for work to the awarded contractor

Report on Joint Town/JIPSD Meeting

Three Commissioners from the James Island PSD and two members of James Island Town Council met tonight.   From the JIPSD were Commissioners Carter McMillan, Inez Brown Crouch and Rod Welch.   Councilmen Leonard Blank and Troy Mullinax represented the Town along with myself.   Our Town Administrator, Ashley Kellahan, was there as well.

Councilwoman Berry could not attend due to a previous engagement and Councilman Kernodle didn't respond.  Commissioners Waring and Platt had said they were coming, but didn't show up.   I personally invited Commission Chair Engelman to attend, but he refused.   Commission Vice-Chair Hollingsworth didn't respond.

We discussed the Local Option Sales Tax Credit.   Commissioner Welch stated that the majority of Commissioners opposed helping the Town provide a tax credit.  He cited legal concerns.   He also said that it was just silly to think that the District would give up any power over its revenue source.   (This was his way of describing the District's power to take money out of the pockets of taxpayers in the Town.)   Commissioner McMillan pointed out that he was the one Commissioner who had voted to work with the Town to provide a tax credit.   Commissioner Brown Crouch said that rather than the JIPSD just sending letters to the Town saying no, we should have been meeting to discuss these issues months ago.   (Commissioner Welch said that the vote to oppose helping the Town was 6 to 1, but really it was 5 to 1 with one abstention.   Commissioner Brown Crouch abstained.)

I reported that the Town has asked Attorney General Wilson for an opinion about the legal concerns raised by the JIPSD.   Unfortunately, Commissioner Welch made it clear that even if the Attorney General provides an opinion that an agreement between the Town and the JIPSD was legal, he will still oppose working with the Town on a tax credit.

We then discussed the provision of services by the JIPSD to the Town.   I explained that the Town has no plan to take over the provision of services from the JIPSD.   Councilmen Blank and Mullinax said that it has never been discussed.   I reported on my discussion with Councilwoman Berry who said she didn't support taking over the provision of services from the JIPSD.

I said that I was especially troubled that James Island PSD workers had been told that the Town plans to take over the JIPSD and fire the employees.    Commissioner Welch said that he had never heard anyone say that.   I told him that I asked the JIPSD sanitation worker picking up garbage at my house, and that he said they had been told that the Town was going to close down the JIPSD and fire them.   Councilman Blank reported the same experience.   The Commissioners agreed to share with their workers that the Town had no such plan.

We discussed the legislation before the South Carolina Senate to reunite the Town.   I distributed the amended version of the bill and said that I appreciated that Trent Kernodle, the JIPSD lawyer, was now supporting the amended bill.   I asked why this didn't happen months ago.   Commissioner Welch said that Commissioners knew nothing about the bill before it was filed.   I pointed out that I had met with 5 of the 7 Commissioners explaining the bill before it was filed.   And it was filed more than a year ago.  I asked why the JIPSD Commissioners didn't explain what problems they had with the bill and propose changes months ago.   Commission Welch said that they didn't know about the bill until just recently and came up with helpful changes.   I pointed out that they discussed the bill last summer when they attacked Representative McCoy and Senator Thurmond for not coming to them first.   At that time Commissioner Hollingsworth and Commissioner Waring claimed that the bill would allow the Town to close down the JIPSD.   Commissioner Welch stuck with his position that the JIPSD became aware of the bill just recently and made helpful suggestions to improve the bill.

Commissioner McMillan, who has been working to help reunite the Town all along, asked what could they do now to get the bill passed.   Commissioner Welch said that he had to carefully review the current version of the bill to determine if he would support it.

Commissioner Brown Crouch suggested regular joint meetings.   Commissioner Welch said that he thought that the Town was doing just fine and really had nothing to say to the Town.   But he also said he was open to meetings when necessary.   He saw no value in having meetings just for meetings sake.     Commissioner McMillan suggested that we send representatives to each others meetings.   Commissioner Welch agreed to bring it up with the other Commissioners whether we would have regular joint meetings in the future.

On the whole, I think it was a productive and informative meeting.    Commissioners McMillan and Brown Crouch have proven records of supporting the Town.   Please thank them when you see them.   I also appreciate that Commissioner Welch came to the meeting.

Senate Bill 723 Passes Senate Judiciary Committee

Senate Bill 723 was before the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday afternoon.   It was amended to require an initial referendum in the remainder of the public service district to be paid for by the municipality.   The amended version received a favorable recommendation by a vote of 14 to 6.    It could go to the Senate floor in a matter of days.

Mayor Pro-tem Leonard Blank, Town Administrator Ashley Kellahan, JIPSD Commissioner Carter McMillan and I all drove up together.   JIPSD Attorney Trent Kernodle and his wife Kay were there as well.

There were many bills on the agenda.   The Chairman, Senator Martin, said that if anyone had any objection to any bill, they should say so right away so that they would be carried over.  That means they will postpone consideration and go right to bills where there is no controversy.   Immediately, Senators raised objections to various bills, and "without objection," they carried them over.   From what the Chairman said, it seemed to me that meant the bill was dead for this year, and maybe forever.

Then came Senate Bill 723.   Senator Scott of Richland County said he objected to our bill.  The Chair then said that "without objection," the bill should be "carried over."

Senator Thurmond objected.   He said that we should debate the bill now.   He pointed out that there were people here who had driven for hours multiple times (us,) and the Committee should vote on it.   He said that the Committee should send it to the Senate floor.  Senator Kimpson, from Charleston, said that he objected to the bill as well.   (Senator Kimpson recently replaced Senator Robert Ford.)

Senator Thurmond said that there had been several subcommittee meetings and that the subcommittee had resolved all of the problems different interest groups had with the bill other than the Coastal Conservation League.  

The Senators raising the objections didn't have any specific problems with the bill.   Senator Scott had concerns with annexation in Richland County and wanted someone to explain the bill.   Senator Kimpson said that he had some calls in opposition to the bill, but said nothing about what concerns were raised.

Senator Massey of Aiken County, who had chaired the subcommittee, explained the bill.    He did a good job.  Thank you Senator Massey.

Senator Chip Campsen, who represents the southern part of James Island and is also on the Judiciary Committee, spoke out in favor of the bill.   He spoke in support of reuniting the Town of James Island.   He said that he had worked with Senator McConnell to get the bills passed that allowed the Town to be reincorporated.  He explained that this was the fourth time the Town was incorporated but that a substantial part of the Town was left out.   He explained that this bill had a rational basis and so should survive a court challenge.

Please thank Senator Thurmond and Senator Campsen for their support.

While the bill received a favorable recommendation, there will be a minority report opposing the bill.   This means it goes onto the contested agenda.   It was always going to be difficult to get it to pass the full Senate, but it will be even more challenging now.

After the vote, the James Islanders left the Committee meeting room.  The Judiciary Committee continued on to other items on its agenda.   Our group went around the corner to talk to our lawyer, Danny Crowe.    After a bit, I looked back, there was a Senate staffer, Paula Benson and Trent Kernodle trying to explain the bill to Senator Scott, who had objected.   While they were talking, Senator Kimpson appeared.   He had also objected.  I introduced myself and told him I would be glad to talk to him about the bill.  He said that he would talk to his good friend Senator Thurmond about the bill.    I asked him who called him in opposition.   He said it was the Coastal Conservation League and then two people from James Island.   I exchanged contact information with his staffer.   By that time, Senator Scott had gone back to the meeting room, so I didn't get a chance to speak to him.   Sentator Kimpson also spoke briefly to Trent Kernodle and exchanged contact information.

I really appreciate that the JIPSD's attorney, Trent Kernodle, is helping make this bill work.   Please give him a big thank you.

Representative McCoy will be amending the House version of the bill to make it consistent with the Senate version and has asked for a committee hearing in the House.   I guess we will all be making the trek to Columbia another time.

What will the bill do?

If the bill passes, then after January1, 2016, the James Island Public Service District Commissioners can hold a public hearing, and then petition the Town of James Island to annex the remainder of the District.   There would be a referendum in those parts of the James Island Public Service District that are not currently in the Town.   That would include all the areas the Town lost in 2011--Riverland Terrace, Woodland Shores, Central Park, Laurel Park, Dogwood Park, Sucessionville, Grimball, Riverside, Sol Legare, and Oak Island.   If the majority vote to rejoin the Town, then the Town is reunited.   The JIPSD would continue to provide fire protection, solid waste collection, and sewer service within the reunited Town.   Voters in the reunited Town would continue to vote for JIPSD Commissioners as well as Town Council and Mayor.   Any move to reorganize so that the Town provides some or all of those services would require another referendum by the voters of the entire reunited Town.

For this to pass the Senate, we will need your help.   Please watch for more information.

Dills Bluff/Camp Road Complete

The intersection of Dills Bluff and Camp Road is complete.   The stoplight is on.   Dills Bluff Road is open.   The James Island Public Service District has completed its work on the sewer pipe.   There are some needed repairs to manholes, but there should be no more road closures or detours.

Draft Agenda for Joint Town/JIPSD Meeting

Draft Agenda

Town of James Island/James Island Public Service District

Joint Meeting

Wednesday, April 9, 2014 at 7:00 PM
James Island Town Hall

1.  LOST Tax Credit  Proposals
2. Provision of Services by JIPSD
3. Annexation Legislation to reunite the Town
4. Improved Communications between JIPSD and Town.

SCE&G Public Hearing

For more information go here.

Budget Public Hearing

To see the proposed budget go here.

Mayor and Council Salaries

Second reading on an ordinance providing for a salary for Council and Mayor is scheduled for the April 17 meeting of Council.    The ordinance returns Council salaries to the level that existed in 2011, $8,500 per year.    The Mayor's salary was $35,000 but I had only accepted $15,000.   The ordinance proposes a Mayor's salary of $15,000.    The total cost for 4 members of Council and the Mayor is $49,000 per year.

As any small businessman would know, the pay is only part of the employer cost.  We have to pay the employer's share of social security and medicare taxes.    Because the Town participates in the South Carolina retirement system, paid elected officials must be included too.   So the Town must pay its share of retirement.   Because the Town participates in the State Health Plan, regulations require that elected officials be offered the same health insurance benefits as other employees.   The Town must pay the employer's share.     Like other employees, elected officials will also have deductions from their paychecks.   The Town has budgeted $36,000 per year to cover those expenses, though our actual expense will depend on whether the elected officials opt for health insurance and their family situation.   State Insurance system regulations require a higher contribution for employee and spouse, and a still higher contribution for employee, spouse, and children.   (Before I became Mayor, there was a major debate in the Town about health insurance for elected officials.   The Town debated whether elected officials were full time or part time.   Apparently, we just missed the regulation that requires coverage for elected officials.)

Back in 2002, when I was on Council, I opposed any salary or benefits for Mayor and Council.   While most municipalities in South Carolina pay elected officials, not all do.   For example, Kiawah and Seabrook have no pay for elected officials.    However, when I was elected Mayor in 2010, I didn't try to get rid of salaries.   The ordinance at the time said that no one had to accept all of their salary, and so I reduced what I accepted to something I considered more reasonable.

State law only allows salary increases for elected officials  after at least two members of Council have stood for reelection.   Our interpretation has always been that there is no compensation--salary or benefits--for the first two years after each of our now four incorporations.   If the Mayor and Council first elected with each new incorporation choose to pass an ordinance providing for salaries for elected officials, then it will apply after the election state law requires after two years.

Councilman Kernodle's very first initiative, in September of 2012, was to propose benefits for all of our employees, including the elected officials and also a salary for Mayor and Council.   By that point, the Town had already applied to rejoin the South Carolina Retirement System and Health Plan.  Our Town Clerk had started that process during her first week of work in August.   However, I explained that these benefits only apply if Council is compensated, and compensation for Council is only possible after two years.   My view was that there was no reason to deal with this issue first thing.   While there was a bit of pushback, in the end, Council was willing to wait.

Now that we are in the process of passing a budget for 2014-2015, if there are to be salaries for elected officials, funds must be included to pay them, along with the mandated benefits   As part of a review of salaries for all of town staff, the Town Administrator looked at salaries for Council and Mayor in other municipalities.   My discussions with members of Council showed strong support for raising salaries compared to what they were in 2011.   My goal then became holding the line on salaries.   I was pleasantly surprised at the budget workshop and at the first reading of the salary ordinance that there was no pushback against this proposal to keep salaries for elected officials the same as they were in 2011.

If you have any questions or concerns, email me at mayorwoolsey@gmail.com or else call 697-7020.