Sherry Simpson, clerk to counsel for Lancaster County, briefed the Fire Commission on a new county ordinance that standardizes rules for boards and commissions.

Simpson said the ordinance (cited in the meeting as “20 24 19 26”) was passed on 09/23/2024 and directs consistent provisions across boards for powers and duties, residency, length of terms, attendance, conduct and training. "The purpose behind this is because they are trying to standardize what everybody does on boards and commissions," Simpson said.

The ordinance requires annual publication of a meeting calendar and that agendas be posted in advance, consistent with Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) obligations, Simpson said. She told the commission that minutes will be posted to the county website through a new software system after they are approved.

Simpson described several specifics: officer elections should align with the county council’s schedule (the ordinance calls for election after a council election year in January), each board must meet at least twice a year, terms are four years, and members must be residents and registered voters in Lancaster County. She said council may waive some requirements by unanimous vote but noted council’s current precedent has been to deny waivers.

On recusals, Simpson said the county follows South Carolina ethics rules; members who must recuse should step out for discussion and the recusal form is attached to the minutes. She said chairs may excuse absences and that missing three consecutive regular, special or workshop meetings can be grounds for removal, subject to council action.

Simpson also said training will be offered twice a year for new appointees (December and July) and that the clerk’s office will schedule and post agendas and maintain a community calendar. She noted the clerk’s office will treat training-officer meetings as county meetings subject to the same posting and recording requirements.

The presentation concluded with staff questions about implementing remote meetings and Teams access for the public; Simpson said the public link must appear on agendas if a meeting is held by Teams. Commission members raised no substantive objections during the presentation.