The Clarendon County Development Board could see a change in its 11-member makeup after a decision made by County Council on Monday night.
Council members passed first reading Monday during their regular meeting on an ordinance that will change one of the members from a District 2 appointment to an at-large one, meaning that member can come from any of the county's three districts.
"We've had a request come to us from the Clarendon County Development Board to basically confirm and reorganize the makeup of their board," said Clarendon Administrator David Epperson. "Right now, they have 11 members, with three from District 1, five from District 2 and three from District 3."
Under the new plan, districts 1 and 3 would retain their same memberships, while District 2 would lose a member and the seat would go to an at-large resident. That resident could still be from District 2, however.
"This is being done at the Development Board's request, so they have asked for this," said Epperson. "This allows for that position with whoever is selected for it to live in any district within the county, sort of how chairman of County Council works."
For example, Chairman Dwight Stewart is from Summerton, which is in District 1.
Epperson told council members on Monday that while making the change, council should use the opportunity to revisit several ordinances that have changed the scope and plans of the Development Board since its inception decades ago.
"When they made that request, I looked at other ordinances that had been passed, and there were a lot of items for the development board that were in one ordinance, but not covered in another ordinance," said Epperson. "I feel like this was the best time to not only take that request from the Development Board, but also clean up some other ordinances and make it one ordinance going forward."
Epperson said the ordinance includes the change in membership, but retains three-year terms for board members.
"All members will serve at the pleasure of County Council and can be removed by majority vote of County Council," said Epperson. "I think in the past there were some questions about being removed from a board if they felt like situations had arisen. It wasn't clear in past ordinances, and this would make it clear that County Council has that power."
County Council will also be able to appoint ceremonial and ex-officio members who will not have voting power. The responsibilities of these members will be up to the board's chairman.
Epperson said the ordinance also requires the board to keep its bylines in line with the ordinance itself.
"They would need to amend current bylaws to comply with this," he said.
The ordinance also sets forth the scope and purpose of the board, which is, in general, "to plan, foster and promote the economic well being of Clarendon County."
To that end, the board is entitled to:
Seek industry compatible with the environment and lifestyle of the county that will provide employment within Clarendon County at wages that will engender a pleasant level of family life;
Promote and recommend to County Council programs and policies of economic and industrial development that will make the county a unit diverse and inclusive while advancing the standard of living and enhancing the tax base of the county;
Work with other agencies, committees, commissions and entities to promote and assist in the promotion of the plans and project that will improve the living and working conditions of the residents of Clarendon County.
