CHAPIN, S.C. — The power of who gets to hire and fire four specific positions at Chapin Town Hall is set to be discussed and possibly changed soon.
The item was tabled last month at a council meeting on October 17, 2023 because local leaders say not all council members were present.
This would involve changing the town code. According to town administrator Nichole Burroughs, this change would help clarify and match words with actions.
It involves who has the power to hire and fire the police chief, director of finance, director of planning and zoning, and director of public works and utilities.
"The town of Chapin is a strong mayor form of government and so traditionally speaking, that decision had been held with the mayor and adding in a town administrator, which is a new role, relatively new role in the organization within the last year, it was important to clarify expectations on council's behalf," Burroughs said.
Burroughs tells News 19 the town of Chapin has operated for several years with the mayor making these decisions. It was just that the town code language didn't match, spelling out that the hiring and firing of these four positions was written as the mayor and council's decision. Now, the town is hoping to change that language to solely the mayor.
Locals tell News 19 they don't support the idea of one person making these decisions.
"Any democratic society, we should have the right to have more than one person decided who will be in office and who won't," Sallie Joe, Chapin resident said.
"I don't have a problem with it really, other than I wouldn't want him to have sole power for hiring and firing," Dan Svoboda, Chapin resident said.
But the town explains more conversations are to come, including discussing any other needed town code changes.
"Traditionally speaking, in a strong mayor form of government or a mayor-council form of government, which is what we have, the hiring and the termination of employees rests with the chief administrative officer, which would be the mayor. And then the mayor has the ability to hire and fire department heads," Burroughs said.
The next Chapin town council meeting is set for November 21, 2023 at 6 p.m.