Tonight's county council meeting was the best I've ever been to. Eddie Moore showed himself to be a fair and competent leader, and I'm sure Judge Wilkins and Bob Daniels will do a great job assisting the new council. Also, last night Carthel Crout was sworn in as the new Mayor of Williamston. I'm cautiously optimistic that better days are ahead for the town and the county.
A huge crowd attended the highly anticipated County Council meeting for January 6, 2009. The attendees included many from the far-left and the far-right, and a few from the middle. Among the decisions made were the following:
•An attorney, Billy Wilkins, was hired to investigate decisions made by former County Council, during their meeting on November 18, including the contract to the Administrator Michael Cunningham.
•An accountant, Robert Daniel, was hired to conduct a complete audit of Anderson County’s finances.
•A review of all county’s lawsuits, to determine their legitimacy.
•The Administrator, Michael Cunningham, was ordered to drop litigation against Council members Bob Waldrep and Cindy Wilson.
The most revealing aspects of the meeting were the council members closing comments:
•Bob Waldrep: The possibilities are endless and the expectations are great. Hopefully we will work toward the concept of becoming the greatest council ever elected.
•Gracie Floyd: I am willing to work with you for the betterment of Anderson County. But I will be very vocal in my debates, although I do not have vocal following.
•Tom Allen: Communication is extremely important, and I plan to listen to what all of you have to say.
•Tommy Dunn: I listened to my people, and they have listened to me and elected me. Good employees have nothing to fear from us.
•Ron Wilson: No comment.
•Cindy Wilson: It is so nice to have people whom I can talk to, and who are willing to talk to me. This will be an open and honest council, and people will be able to talk to us, without fear of retaliation.
•Edie Moore: County employees do not need to fear talking to us. We simply need to get this audit behind us, so we can move forward. We will see more cohesion than you have ever seen in the past.
Tonight's county council meeting was the best I've ever been to. Eddie Moore showed himself to be a fair and competent leader, and I'm sure Judge Wilkins and Bob Daniels will do a great job assisting the new council. Also, last night Carthel Crout was sworn in as the new Mayor of Williamston. I'm cautiously optimistic that better days are ahead for the town and the county.
-lee-cole
A huge crowd attended the highly anticipated County Council meeting for January 6, 2009. The attendees included many from the far-left and the far-right, and a few from the middle. Among the decisions made were the following:•An attorney, Billy Wilkins, was hired to investigate decisions made by former County Council, during their meeting on November 18, including the contract to the Administrator Michael Cunningham.•An accountant, Robert Daniel, was hired to conduct a complete audit of Anderson County’s finances.•A review of all county’s lawsuits, to determine their legitimacy.•The Administrator, Michael Cunningham, was ordered to drop litigation against Council members Bob Waldrep and Cindy Wilson.
The most revealing aspects of the meeting were the council members closing comments:
•Bob Waldrep: The possibilities are endless and the expectations are great. Hopefully we will work toward the concept of becoming the greatest council ever elected.•Gracie Floyd: I am willing to work with you for the betterment of Anderson County. But I will be very vocal in my debates, although I do not have vocal following.•Tom Allen: Communication is extremely important, and I plan to listen to what all of you have to say.•Tommy Dunn: I listened to my people, and they have listened to me and elected me. Good employees have nothing to fear from us.•Ron Wilson: No comment.•Cindy Wilson: It is so nice to have people whom I can talk to, and who are willing to talk to me. This will be an open and honest council, and people will be able to talk to us, without fear of retaliation.•Edie Moore: County employees do not need to fear talking to us. We simply need to get this audit behind us, so we can move forward. We will see more cohesion than you have ever seen in the past.
-art-kaldas
Gee, I wonder how they arrived at hiring all those lawyers, accountants, without having any meetings ??????
I don't know what council meeting you attended lee-cole but it must not have been the one I was at. It was a theatrical production carefully choreographed by the new gang of 5. Same old song and dance just different actors preening on stage. How can changing from one "gang" with an agenda to another "gang" with an agenda be any better, especially when the new "gang's" agenda is one of vengeance and retribution--gees talk about personal petty politics. I was appalled and dismayed at the actions of this so-called new council. The three new members are continuing the Driver crowd's determination to "get" Joey Preston, Bill McAbee, Larry Greer, and Michael Thompson. Several "citizens" commented on the former members of council. The Driver crowd(including GOP stalwart and staffer for Jim Demint Susan Aiken) taunted Ms Floyd, laughing at her comments and making crude and rude remarks as she spoke. Then in the height of hypocrisy arose to announce in Citizen Comments that they were not racists. It was a truly amazing show. All we needed was a crowd crying Cindy Wilson outside the Casa Rosada.
Well, I cry for Anderson County now that the new Gang of Five is in power.-elliefant
I cry too. I was equally appalled!
Gee, wonder how they agreed on hiring all the lawyers and accountants, without
and "meetings?" Hmmmmmm.
RIP Anderson County photo-jdtippett
Sad but true ....!
I don't know what council meeting you attended lee-cole but it must not have been the one I was at. It was a theatrical production carefully choreographed by the new gang of 5. Same old song and dance just different actors preening on stage. How can changing from one "gang" with an agenda to another "gang" with an agenda be any better, especially when the new "gang's" agenda is one of vengeance and retribution--gees talk about personal petty politics. I was appalled and dismayed at the actions of this so-called new council. The three new members are continuing the Driver crowd's determination to "get" Joey Preston, Bill McAbee, Larry Greer, and Michael Thompson. Several "citizens" commented on the former members of council. The Driver crowd(including GOP stalwart and staffer for Jim Demint Susan Aiken) taunted Ms Floyd, laughing at her comments and making crude and rude remarks as she spoke. Then in the height of hypocrisy arose to announce in Citizen Comments that they were not racists. It was a truly amazing show. All we needed was a crowd crying Cindy Wilson outside the Casa Rosada.
Well, I cry for Anderson County now that the new Gang of Five is in power.-elliefant
When someone has to keep saying "I am not a racist" it makes one wonder?
Gee, wonder how they agreed on hiring all the lawyers and accountants, withoutand "meetings?" Hmmmmmm.-republikin
But they ran on full transprancy ???????
Isn't "Gotcha" the game that journalist play ?
First fair comment I have seen from you AND you didn't call anyone names. Semper Fi
I accept that.
Good grief, Jack. You HAVE been away too long. I agree with everything you just posted, other than having no problem with the executive session to discuss a contractual matter.
I agree that ordering Cunningham to drop his lawsuit was illegal, but I was more concerned that Council refused to allow him to appoint counsel prior to the inquisition. If that's their idea of fairness - and if that's how they're going to treat every other Anderson County employee in the future when they target them - then God help you all.
Elliefant, there is nothing in the FOI that requires information discussed in executive session to remain private, other than those matters like personnel and trade secrets. Most of the time, keeping those discussions private is just a courtesy extended by council members to one another. Any Council member has always been able to reveal anything he or she wants to reveal from those sessions, but there would be consequences to doing so - not the least of which would be a loss of trust from his or her fellow council members.
The primary purpose of executive sessions is to allow the elected body to discuss those issues that MAY drift into truly privileged areas without fear of inadvertently revealing such information. It is NOT a "veil of secrecy" or a "cone of silence" as some thing.
There have been times in the past when, as a reporter, I've known exactly what has taken place in executive session - such things as the identity of a proposed industry plannign to relocate to the county - and didn't report it for various reasons. It's not as sinister as everybody makes it out to be.
Good grief, Jack. You HAVE been away too long. I agree with everything you just posted, other than having no problem with the executive session to discuss a contractual matter.
I agree that ordering Cunningham to drop his lawsuit was illegal, but I was more concerned that Council refused to allow him to appoint counsel prior to the inquisition. If that's their idea of fairness - and if that's how they're going to treat every other Anderson County employee in the future when they target them - then God help you all.
-jdtippett
