A. The council shall hold its regular meeting for the transaction of official business at least once each month in accordance with the schedule adopted by council. The clerk to council shall make available to local newspapers of record the agenda package excluding executive session back-up. The council shall designate the day of the month and the time of its regular monthly meeting(s) at its first regular meeting in the month of January annually. Thereafter during the year, the council may change the day of the month and the time of its regular monthly meeting(s) provided that the clerk to council shall send written notice of the change to the local newspapers of record and post on the council bulletin board at least fifteen (15) days prior to the effective date of the change. Special meetings shall be called by the chairman or majority of the council. Special meetings may be called at any time, provided that all members and local newspapers of record shall be notified as to subject matter, date, time and place of such meeting and, in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, at least twenty four (24) hours in advance and the clerk to council shall post notice of the meeting on the council bulletin board. A majority of the members of council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of official business.

The clerk to council shall give notice, either written or by telephone, to the local newspaper and electronic media as soon as possible after the calling of any special meetings of the council provided however, that the council shall not meet at any time until such media have been given notice of such meeting in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act.

B. All meetings shall be open to the public. However, council may hold executive session upon the vote of a majority of the members of council present for the following purposes:

1. Employment, appointment, compensation, promotion, demotion, discipline, or release of an employee or other personnel matter.

2. Negotiations incident to proposed contractual arrangements and proposed sale or purchase of property, the receipt of legal advice, settlement of legal claims, or the position of the county or public agency in other adversarial situations;

3. Executive sessions may be held concerning other matters than those enumerated above in accordance with the Code of Laws of South Carolina.

C. At the chairman’s discretion, within two months following the end of the county fiscal year, the chairman, with the assistance of the council and the administrator, shall issue a public report concerning the general condition of the Colleton County government. The State of the County report shall contain information of a general nature concerning finances, programs, and procedures as analyzed by the chairman and council.

D. Conduct.

1. Opening the Meeting. Meetings shall be opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Each meeting shall be conducted within the framework of the South Carolina Ethics Act of 1975, as amended.

2. Decorum in Speaking. Every member, when about to speak, shall address the chair as "Mr. or Madam Chairman," and, in speaking, shall avoid disrespect to the council and any personalities; and he shall confine himself to the question under consideration.

3. Addressing the Chair. The chairman, when addressed by a member, shall recognize the member by name, using no title but that of "councilman," "Mr.," or "Ms." The member who shall first be recognized shall be first heard; if several shall address the chairman at the same time, the chairman shall decide who was first to speak and shall recognize such member.

4. Requesting to be Heard. Should any person, group or organization request to be heard upon any matter at a regular or special meeting of council, such person, group or organization shall request in writing at least one week prior to the date set for such meeting that the clerk to council or the administrator place such matter on the agenda for the meeting. This requirement may be waived by the chairman in cases of great urgency if the matter is presented in writing and every member of the council is provided with a copy at least four hours prior to the commencement of the meeting or as otherwise specified in the agenda.

5. Matters Not Within the Council’s Jurisdiction. No matter shall be entered on the agenda or be heard by the council unless it is within the council’s authority or jurisdiction, provided that, the council may entertain requests that it make recommendations to other governmental bodies, departments or agencies.

6. Recognition of Persons. When any person or persons, including employees of the council and of the county, are heard by the council as provided in part D above, that person or persons, when they have completed their presentation, shall be seated and no person or persons, other than a member of the council, will be recognized to make any statement on such matter unless requested to do so by the council or by any member of the council through the chairman. (Ord. 01-O-09 §§ 2--2.4.6, 2001)