New Commissioners Take Charge

The James Island Public Service District held a special meeting on January 14th. The meeting was called by a majority of Commissioners soon after they were sworn in on January 2nd.

For the first item of business, the Commissioners changed their rules of procedure to regain their authority to select the JIPSD Attorney.  That had been given up to the District Administrator in 2015 by then Commissioners Waring, Kernodle, Hollingsworth, and Wilder.

The Commissioners then asked Michael Timbes to serve as an attorney to review transition issues.   The Commissioners voted to allow Trent Kernodle to complete a letter to the City of Charleston that he had already been assigned.    According to the newly-established rules a "Request for Qualifications" will be sent out soon seeking a new General Attorney for the District.

The next item of business was election of officers.   Commissioner Kathy Woolsey moved to suspend the rules as necessary for the election of all officers by roll call vote.   The Vice Chair and Secretary positions were vacant because former Commissioners Hollingsworth and Wilder were defeated in their reelection efforts in November.   Chair Engelman was not up for election in November, and since the JIPSD rules of procedure has its officers elected for one year terms from June to July, her term as chair is slated to end on June 30.  However, the JIPSD rules of procedure allow a majority of Commissioners to suspend the rules, which would include the rules regarding the terms and dates of election of officers.  Commissioner Woolsey argued that it would be better to elect officers using the calendar year--January to January.   The vote to suspend the rules failed on a 3 to 4 vote.  Commissioners Brown Crouch, Clifford, and Woolsey voted in favor.   Commissioners Engelman, Platt, Laughlin, and Poston voted against. 

Commissioner Laughlin was appointed as the Chair of the Adminstrative Committee by Commission Chair Engelman in an email last week.   He called for a committee meeting to review the rules regarding the election of officers before the next regular meeting on January 28th.  From the discussion there appeared to be substantial support for running terms from January to January.

The Commission then filled the two vacant offices.  Commissioner Platt nominated Alan Laughlin for Vice Chair.   Commissioner Brown Courch nominated Commisioner Woolsey.   Laughlin received 3 votes in favor--Engleman, Platt and himself.   Commissioner Woolsey received four votes Clifford, Brown Courch, Poston, and herself.   Commissioner Poston was elected Secretary on a 6 to 1 vote, with only Chair Engelman voting against.

Chair Engelman left the meeting.   Vice Chair Woolsey continued the meeting.    The next item on the agenda was the time of the regular Commission meetings.   There was  concern that it is difficult for citizens to fight the traffic and get to a 6:00 Commission meeting right after work.   Two of the Commissioners have jobs and explained it is difficult for them to make it to a 6:00 meeting.  The Commission voted unanimously to change their rules of procedure so that the time of the regular meetings is returned to 7:00 PM as it had been for many years.