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Town Coucil - Mar 1, 2010 |
Minutes McClellanville Town Council March 1, 2010 - 7:00 PM McClellanville Town Council held a regular meeting on the above-noted date. Notice of the meeting had been published in the town newsletter and the Charleston Post and Courier. Mayor Rutledge Leland presided at the meeting and all Town Council members were present: Aaron Baldwin, Bob Gannon, Gussie Humes and Jim Scott. Others attending the meeting included Town Clerk Mary Duke, Town Marshal Larry McClellan, Dr. David Hughes, Tree Committee Chair Ed Farnworth, Lt. Sam Brock, and an animal control officer from the Charleston County Sheriff's Office. Mayor Leland first asked Council to review the minutes from the February 1, 2010 meeting. After review, Councilman Gannon made a motion to approve the minutes as written. The motion was seconded by Councilman Humes and carried by unanimous vote. Mayor Leland then recognized Dr. David Hughes from Clemson University. Dr. Hughes provided an update for Council on the status of the ongoing community development efforts in which Town officials and residents have been participating along with representatives from the Clemson Institute for Economic and Community Development. Dr. Hughes said that members of the institute and Clemson students working under their guidance had been reviewing and compiling information gathered through a public survey conducted in November 2009 and a public meeting held in December 2009. He said that major focus areas had been identified, including strengthening education (he said that there would be emphasis on support for an environmentally-focused charter school here), eco-tourism and appropriate tourism development, appropriate retail development, and housing and quality of life issues such as low-impact development and protection of the seafood industry. He noted that other goals the Institute may be able to assist with included potential further development of the Village Commercial District, means to ameliorate the situation with many often-unoccupied second homes in town, and strategies to attract a grocery store to locate in town. He said that Harry Crissy and he would continue to work on the project with local leaders and residents, and would report on further developments at upcoming meetings. Mayor Leland then spoke to Council regarding his recent attendance at the "Sewee Summit." He said that the meeting was organized by East Cooper County Councilman Dickie Schweers in an effort to promote sharing of common interests and goals, such as controlled growth and preservation of the environment, among East Cooper community leaders. The mayor said that Town Councilman Aaron Baldwin would serve on the education component of the planning group, and that he had hopes that the group would help with support of the Town's charter school proposal. Mayor Leland pointed out that Harry Crissy might be interested in attending some of the upcoming meetings of the Sewee to Santee Regional Planning Group. Dr. Hughes said that he believed Mr. Crissy would have interest in this effort. Mayor Leland then recognized Lt. Sam Brock from the Charleston County Sheriff's office. Lt. Brock said that he had sent periodic email updates of crime statistics and other information to the town office, and would continue to keep Council informed. He introduced an animal control officer to Council, who was able to speak to questions regarding enforcement of state animal control ordinances. The mayor also recognized Town Marshal Larry McClellan, who spoke to Council on his concerns about recent vicious animal incidents and enforcement of town ordinances. He said that two recent incidents included a near-fatal attack by two dogs on a smaller dog and a separate incident where a woman was seriously injured when attacked by a dog. Marshal McClellan said that under current ordinances, the penalty is the same whether a dog attacks another animal or a human; the only penalty currently allowed by Town ordinances is a fine of up to $500 and confinement of the animal. The marshal pointed out that the dog involved in attacking the woman had escaped from its confinement, and that a risk was always present that confined animals could escape. He added that he believed the Town ordinance should be "tweaked" to allow more severe penalties for owners of dogs that have attacked a person or persons, to include removal or destruction of the animal. The County Animal Control Deputy spoke to Council about the state's dangerous dog law. Councilman Scott asked whether the state code included a section that allows a judge to order that a dangerous dog be destroyed. The deputy cited a section that would allow this. Lt. Brock told Council that Marshal McClellan could call the County deputies for assistance when he gets a report of a vicious dog situation. He added that the marshal could go to the local magistrate to request a warrant for the owner of a vicious/dangerous dog, and that the deputies could serve the warrant. Council concluded that, since penalties for attacks on humans could be enforced in this way under state law, revising town ordinances might not be necessary at this time. Lt. Brock asked about the planned date for this year's Shrimp Festival and told Council that the Town could notify him if any extra law enforcement presence would be needed for the festival. Councilman Bob Gannon next spoke to Council regarding ongoing drainage problems on Scotia Street. He said that several residents on Scotia Street, including the Grahams, the Garners, Eddie Holcombe, and Dr. Jim Fulcher (doctor's office property), had persistent problems with lots that flooded after rain events and drained very poorly. Councilman Gannon said that he believed a drainage ditch had been located across the Middle School property in the past, but that the ditch had been filled and replaced with a storm water retention pond. He said that he was unsure as to whether storm water from the flooded properties should be piped to the retention pond or directed to another ditch. Mayor Leland asked Council whether study of the drainage problem should be taken on as a town issue. He said that the Town most likely needed an engineered plan for drainage improvements. He said that the Town could request assistance from County Public Works on evaluating the problem in the Scotia and Venning Street area. Council agreed that decisions on drainage improvements could be made when an evaluation had been completed. Council then considered the next agenda item, a preliminary proposal from the Tree Committee for the Town to lease property located on Pinckney Street, owned by Andrew Hall. Councilman Gannon noted that maintenance of the property and removal of some concrete debris there would be an expense to the Town. He said the he was unsure whether he would be comfortable with a lease agreement similar to the one the Town has for the Deer Head Oak property. The Deer Head Oak lease contains a statement allowing the agreement to be cancelled at any time given 30 days notice by either of the parties in the lease. Councilman Gannon said that he did not feel the Town should invest in improving the property on Pinckney Street if the lease agreement could be cancelled at any time with 30 days notice. Mayor Leland said that he would like to have some information on the cost of continued maintenance of the property and of the cost of adding the property to the Town's liability insurance coverage. Council indicated interest in leasing or acquiring the property by some means if costs for this are not found to be prohibitive. Council agreed to reconsider the proposal when some cost estimates are received. Tree Committee Chair Ed Farnworth then spoke to Council regarding the committee's latest activities. He said that the Committee had received approval for an award of federal ARRA monies to remove hazard trees and limbs on public trees along town streets. He added that SCDOT had agreed to remove some of the trees/limbs at no cost, so that some of the funds could probably be reserved for other work. He said that as tree removal activity generally causes concern among residents, notice would be given in the newsletter regarding the removals and the reason for this action. Ed said that trees to be removed would also be marked. He said that failure to remove trees and limbs identified as hazardous could be a liability for the Town. Ed also suggested, with regard to the recently-acquired greenspace property on Pinckney Street, that adequate planning go into decisions for clearing the property, placement of the Elizabeth Dawson memorial, proposed boardwalk, and so forth. Council next discussed possible projects to submit for funding through the County's Transportation Sales Tax program. Council agreed that the study for drainage improvements for the Scotia/Venning Street area should be our highest priority request. Funding for the proposed boardwalk for the Pinckney Street greenspace might be a secondary request. Councilman Gannon suggested that County Parks, Recreation and Tourism might offer some valuable guidance in planning and estimating costs for the boardwalk. Councilman Aaron Baldwin said that, upon inspection of the Pinckney Street property, he believed that a deck or overlook area might be as suitable for the area, and less expensive to construct than a boardwalk. Council then considered the application from Dan Fifis to fill the vacancy on the Planning Commission. Council expressed approval for Mr. Fifis' membership. Councilman Humes made a motion to appoint Mr. Fifis to the Planning Commission. The motion was seconded by Councilman Gannon and carried by unanimous vote. Council next reviewed a request for a resolution opposing any closures of fishing areas off the coast of South Carolina. Council agreed that the proposal by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council to close approximately 3500 square miles off of the SC coast to bottom fishing would have an adverse effect on the coastal economy. Councilman Gannon made a motion, seconded by Councilman Humes, for Council to adopt the resolution opposing closure of any fishing areas. The motion was carried by unanimous vote. Council then considered Clerk Mary Duke's request that they schedule a meeting of the Finance Committee (made up of the Mayor and all of Council) to begin work on the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2010/2011. Council agreed that they would meet on Monday, March 22, at 7 PM. There being no further business, a motion was then made, seconded, and unanimously approved to adjourn the meeting. Mary S. Duke Town Clerk |