The council shall elect a chairman, vice chairman, and such other officers as it may deem necessary for the terms as hereinafter set forth, at the initial meeting of the council in January following the general election, at which the first act of council shall be to elect a chairman and at which the county attorney shall act as chairman only for the election of a council chairman.

A. Chairman. Unless otherwise provided by law, the council shall elect one of its members to serve as chairman for a term of two years at the initial meeting of the council in January following each general election. Any vacancy in the chairmanship shall be filled by the council for the unexpired portion of the term. The chairman shall preside at all regular and special meetings of the council, shall execute, on behalf of the council, by and through the county administrator, all ordinances, resolutions, directives, deeds, bonds, contracts and other official instruments, and shall have such other duties and perform such other functions as set forth by the council. The chairman shall be able to vote on all issues before council.

B. Vice Chairman. At the initial meeting in January following the general election, the council shall elect one of its members by a majority vote to serve as vice chairman for a two-year term. In the event that the chairman shall be temporarily absent or unable to serve, the vice chairman shall serve as chairman in his stead. If the vice chairman is unable to fulfill his duties, a special election may be held to complete his unexpired term.

C. Clerk. The council shall appoint a person, not a member of the council, to serve as clerk for an indefinite term. The clerk will record mechanically and type summary form minutes of all proceedings of the council in a format consistent with that adopted by the South Carolina Clerks to Councils Association, maintaining tape recordings of meetings for ninety (90) days only and using tapes on a rotational basis (during the ninety (90) day period, duplicated tapes may be ordered for a fee of fifteen dollars ($15.00) per tape, to be collected by the clerk to council and deposited with the treasurer at the time the order is placed); deliver copies of the minutes of all council meetings to all members prior to the next regular council meeting; type and deliver an agenda of the order of business to be considered to each councilman prior to the next regular council meeting. The clerk shall keep the minutes of all committee meetings in the same manner as noted hereinabove when requested by the chairman of such committee; keep a register of all proposed ordinances and resolutions, assigning them a number and arranging them in order of introductions; render any needed assistance to members of the council in typing and preparation of reports, recommendations, ordinances, resolutions, annual State of the County reports, directives, and correspondence; and assist the county administrator in the performance of his duties. The clerk shall treat all matters in a confidential manner and shall not distribute any papers or reveal any transactions concerning the proceedings of the council without the authority of the chairman, provided that such withholding shall not be in violation of the Freedom of Information Act.

D. County Attorney. The council shall designate and contract an attorney who is not a member of the council to serve as the county attorney. He shall perform such duties as are assigned to him from time to time by council. He shall prepare all deeds, contracts, ordinances and other legal documents necessary to assist council in performing its functions. He shall attend all council meetings and advise council, when required, of matters and things pertaining to the legality of proceedings before council and its actions thereon. He shall participate in any litigation involving the county and shall carry out any assignments delegated to him by council. The county attorney shall serve at the pleasure of the council, and his compensation and contractual relationship shall be set by council. In the absence of the county attorney where the council shall feel that an attorney is needed, any attorney, as the council may appoint, may be called to attend the meetings of council and/or act according to council’s directives.

E. Administrator. The council shall appoint an administrator for a period of time according to such criteria as the council shall set. The administrator shall serve at the pleasure of the council and under such conditions and contractual relationship as the council may set forth. The duties and responsibilities of the administrator include those set forth in the Code of Laws of South Carolina and such others as the council may desire. If the administrator is absent from a meeting or portion thereof for any reason, the administrator’s designee shall act in his or her stead for purposes of that meeting. (Ord. 03-O-03 (part), 2003; Ord. 01-O-09 §§ 1--1.5, 2001)