Councilwoman's queries prompt mayor to give her keys to town hall
By PHYLLIS A. OVERSTREET, T&D Correspondent Friday, August 15, 20088 comment(s) | Default | Large
BRANCHVILLE – Tensions continue between Branchville Mayor Tim Cooner and Councilwoman Georgianna Harmon, with the issue seeming to come to the fore during Monday night’s regular town council meeting.
Harmon questioned numerous items in regards to the monthly financial report, indicating deposits are not being transcribed over to the monthly Budget Detail report. She also questioned regular monthly checks to individuals who are not included in the town’s budget.
Harmon said the monthly reports rarely match and although this was an issue she had been bringing up to council for several months, council members routinely approved the reports anyway.
“I don’t feel like council takes this seriously.” Harmon said. “Everything I’ve said so far has been ignored.
Councilwoman Amy Bryant took issue with Harmon’s remarks, saying she did, in fact, take her role seriously.
In response to a question from the press, Cooner said the town’s most recent audit was unqualified, meaning there were no material findings by C.C. McGregor.
The town uses Quickbooks financial software, which Cooner noted was not really designed to handle municipal finances. He said the proper finance software would cost the town about $20,000. Council members asked about purchasing the software, as there appeared to be enough money in the General Account to make the purchase. But Cooner said the funds in the General Account would be needed to keep the town operating through December, the end of the fiscal year.
Harmon also asked Cooner if he had checked with the State Budget and Control Board concerning whether or not Branchville’s new water tower was insured.
Cooner responded that the tower was insured, then proceeded to ask council to vote on Harmon taking on day-to-day administrative responsibilities for the town, going so far as to place the keys to Branchville Town Hall on the table in front of Harmon.
In other business, council members voted to consider using a building near the town’s recreation field as a temporary site for the town library. Harmon volunteered to contact the Orangeburg County Library to determine if they would allow Branchville to have a free-standing library.
The tone of the council meetings was addressed during public comments by Branchville resident Melody Etheridge, who said the rudeness exhibited during the July meeting made her ashamed.
T&D Correspondent Phyllis A. Overstreet can be reached by e-mail at paoverstreet@bellsouth.net.
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tori1sc wrote on Aug 20, 2008 9:18 AM:
A few of the comments ,mentioned education. The only requirement to be on council or the mayor is that you are a resident of the municipality and a registered voter. It is the responsibility of the elected officers to educated themselves. It is their duty to attend classes and learn how to correctly lead in the community.
I have noticed several municipalities seem to think what happens at town hall stays at town hall. If any of the officials are questioned they that offence. With this attitude I would hate for them to be a senator or president of the USA. "
gamecock82 wrote on Aug 19, 2008 12:24 AM:
branchvillebornandbred wrote on Aug 18, 2008 4:59 PM:
While I support the Mayor, I do not agree with his every move, but I still support him. There is not a single person in Branchville who can honestly say that Branchville is not a better town since Mayor Cooner took office. I think if a lot of people would stop being jealous and childish and take a really good long look at where the town was when Mayor Cooner took office and where it is now, I think a lot of feelings would change.
As far as being ashamed? I love my town. I am not ashamed to be from here. Never have I considered moving away. What embarasses me is that one person, who is not from here, but moved here after living several other places and causing trouble, can come here and stir up all these problems and have it broadcasted in the newspaper like we are some poor dumb society wandering around in darkness and she has come to save the day, that we don't have enough sense to transact business from day to day. Well we managed for a long long time!
Its time to stop all the hatred and listening to former town leaders who have agendas they want accomplished and start serving the people, all the people of this town. It's time to build a bridge and get over it. "
confisus_sum wrote on Aug 18, 2008 4:38 PM:
Branchville Native wrote on Aug 18, 2008 12:32 PM:
USMC89 wrote on Aug 17, 2008 4:50 PM:
Georgiana Harmon does have some good points that she brings up and could approach these matters in different ways, instead she has to be in the spot light. She seems like a smart person, I just wish she could use her brain to help this town move forward instead of tearing it down. She is the broken link in the chain and if she would join the other six this could be one strong council. She lets others fill her head with things and then they don't even show up to back her up at the meeting. She has people against us. Some of these people I consider friends who I grew up with, hung around when I was young.
On Monday night I would like to get everything back in order and help get this town back to normal. I don't always agree with what the mayor does and other council member's do but when I leave a meeting I leave all that behind and still talk to them because I consider everyone a friend, except one person, but I truely believe I could work with this person if she would start working with the rest of this team.
As for as a brother and sister serving on council together, they don't always agree on everything. You should know this if you had been attending these meeting in the past.
Hope to see you there tommorrow night and maybe instead of saying all the bad things the mayor and council does, why don't you ask someone how this town was before Mayor Cooner took over. Why don't anyone ever comment on the good things he has done for this town, maybe someone should read a letter and say some good things. "
BULLDOGDIVA wrote on Aug 15, 2008 10:05 PM:
gamecock82 wrote on Aug 15, 2008 7:01 PM: