Roll call

Richland Council Meeting Chairman Joe McEachern, Vice Chair Val Hutchinson, Joyce Dickerson, Norman Jackson, Damon Jeter, Paul Livingston, Bill Malinowski, Mike Montgomery, Greg Pearce, Bernice Scott, and Kit Smith were present.

Administrator's report

Milton Pope gave the council an update on the ongoing meetings with the Recreation Commission. The proposed MOU document has been discussed by both groups, and the Recreation Commission is meeting June 25 to address any differences between the wishes of the two entities.

Smoke free finally

After Bill Malinowski corrected all the grammatical errors in the agenda, the council began to discuss the non- smoking ordinance. After the motion to approve was seconded, Malinowski continued his bizarre argument against the ordinance he began last meeting.

He told the rest of the council he had refuted ten of the eleven reasons for the ordinance and wanted the motion deferred until the council could get more information. His motion was defeated.

Malinowski asked if the council needed to improve the language of the ordinance addressing the signage required. He also wondered whether Bed and Breakfast establishments were included, and if people who were fined while violating the ordinance would get due process.

County Attorney Larry Brown pointed out the ordinance had no effective date, which means the ordinance can take affect immediately. Kit Smith offered an amendment to make the effective date 10/01/2008. The ordinance passed third reading with Malinowski tallying the lone nay vote.

Green siding

An ordinance amending the Land Development Code to include a green code was removed from the consent agenda by Smith so she could vote against it. She said the prospect of homes being bunched on smaller lots concerned her. Val Hutchinson wanted vinyl siding prohibited. Norman Jackson gave one of his famous soliloquies about how vinyl siding was affordable and needed to be left as an approved material so citizens would have affordable housing. The ordinance passed.

New tax

An amendment to impose a one cent tax, subject to a referendum, was passed by title only with Greg Pearce's amendment to add a work session. Bernice Scott said she had no problem with the work session, but the council would have to "get the word out" to the communities about the benefits of the proposed new tax before the November referendum. The ordinance passed first reading. (The public hearing should be a doozy.)

Michael Berg signed up to speak in favor of the tax if it helps fund improved bus service. Berg was confused by Chairman McEachern's explanation of the rules governing citizen's input. Since this item is scheduled for a public hearing on 7/15, he isn't supposed to be allowed to talk at this meeting without unanimous council approval.

The approval was granted, and Berg told the council it was important for them to fund the bus service and improve it. He had recently been in Paraguay and said their bus service is better than any in South Carolina.

After executive session, the meeting was adjourned.