Topic: Hiring Council Members

Art, the question is who asked/authorized Mr. Preston to seek a legal opinion on the ordinance? Ms. Wilson simply asked that her suggestion be put in the proper legal form for the Council to review. So who asked Mr. Preston to seek a legal opinion? that question might,and I stress might, have been resolved in open session without incurring any legal expense. So what do you say? Let's let Joey pay Ms. Bloodgood this time, since he took it on himself to bring her into it? And while we're at it, let's ask Joey Ray to explain what made him think he should take such an action.I mean, jeezaree, we already pay McNAir a million a year. They can't provide an opinion in Council?

Fried Green Matter,

Ms. Nancy Bloodgood is the County Personnel Attorney, which means she is technically working for the Administrator. Consequently, asking her for legal advice is within his administrative rights and duties. However, I do agree in principle with Ms. Cindy Wilson’s request for not allowing former County Council members to work for the County within a year of leaving office. Actually, I wonder why this rule is not in existence already?

Ms.Wilson's request is not out of line. I can recall some years ago there was a term called "double dipping". This referred to military retirees leaving service, collecting a retirement, and then being hired back into a government job. There was a three year moratorium on such hiring practice unless the job happened to be a very unique and critical position that otherwise couldn't be filled. A one year moratorium applies to lobbyists here in the SC government. So whether retirement benefits are involved or not, a time gap between leaving one job and being hired right back into that same organization is not unreasonable. It also helps to reduce "payoffs", nepotism, "the revolving door practice", and the good old boy clique to a degree.

Precisely SSHM. Our founders intended that government leaders would be selected from those who has proven themselves in the private sector and had the luxury of lending their time and talent back to their community. Now, elected seats are the singular prize for all to many people who have never experienced success anywhere else. The resulting diminution of respect and wisdom in our government institutions is apparent.