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Contact Information , Office Hours
Functions , Office Responsibilities
FAQ's , Common Terms , History , Interesting Facts
Calendar , Member Contact Information , Biographies
Committees , Appointments , Minutes , Rules of Council
Charleston County Elections
Functions
Policy Development
Public Representation
County Council makes policy decisions for Charleston County, as established in state law. Council's nine members serve four-year terms. Prior to the 2004 election, members were elected at large with residency requirements. A court decision changed the election method this year, requiring candidates to run in single-member districts .
A Clerk of Council and Deputy Clerk provide administrative support and maintain official records of Council meetings and activities. A full-time County Administrator , hired by Council, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the County.
The primary areas for which Council is required to set policy are: establishing the community vision; stating the organizational mission; defining any area of the County Administrator's authority not specifically addressed by state law; and organizing the manner by which Council business is conducted.
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Council Does
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Serve as a link between County government and the citizens, municipalities and agencies located within its boundaries |
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Represent the area's concerns and interests when dealing with other local, state, federal or international governments and agencies |
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Develop policies and laws necessary to carry out an overall mission |
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Approve an annual budget to fund County operations, including the determination of any necessary taxes or fees |
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Monitor organizational performance as it relates to County policy |
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Meet on the first and third Tuesdays of each month in Council chambers in the Lonnie Hamilton III Public Services Building and hold special meetings as necessary |
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Elect one of its members each year to serve as the chairman, act as its spokesperson and preside at Council meetings |
Council Does Not
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Frequently Asked Questions
| Q: |
What are the different forms of county government in South Carolina, and which type is Charleston County? |
| A: |
State law provides four different types of county government. Charleston County has a Council-Administrator form of government.
In both the Council-Administrator and Council-Manager forms, a professional public administrator is appointed by county council to implement policies and direct the work of the county. The difference between the two forms is that in the Council-Manager form, the county can choose to appoint the auditor and treasurer. If appointed, they serve as department heads under the county's manager. In all other forms, these officials are elected.
In the Council-Supervisor form, a supervisor is elected at large. Serving as chair of the council, the supervisor votes only in cases of a tie. The supervisor also administers council policies and oversees the day-to-day activities of the county.
In the Council form, all responsibility for making and administering policies rests with the elected council.
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| Q: |
Who is the County Council representative for my area? |
| A: |
Prior to the 2004 election, residents were able to vote for all nine members of council, but a court ruling changed the election method this year. Members will now run in single-member districts with each resident only voting for the member in their district. |
| Q: |
Are Council members paid? |
| A: |
Council members serve on a part-time basis. For fiscal year 1998, Council members each received $12,750. The Council Chairman is allocated an extra $3,000 per year for the performance of additional duties. |
| Q: |
Are County Council meetings open to the public? |
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Yes. Under the state's Freedom of Information Act, all meetings are open to the public with few exceptions. Meeting announcements are posted in the County Office Building, on the Council Calendar found on this website and sent to anyone who requests notice. |
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Common Terms
At Large-- Elected by or representing the whole. When an election is held at large,all registered voters may cast their ballot for that office. When an official is an at-large representative, he represents all residents served by that government.
Executive Session-- An option provided in the state's Freedom of Information Act that allows the elected body to meet privately. Council must vote publicly to go into executive session and can take no votes during the closed door meeting. The law allows such discussions for contractual and personnel matters or for council to receive legal advice.
Quorum-- The number of a body's membership required to transact official business. For Charleston County Council, five members must be present to constitute a quorum.
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History
Counties were first laid out in South Carolina in 1685 and have undergone many changes since that date. Not until the 1940s did Charleston County government, as we know it today, begin to take shape. In 1948, voters approved a referendum creating a Council-Manager form of government in Charleston County, the first such local government in South Carolina. On January 4, 1949, the newly elected County Council held its first meeting and appointed a County Manager. With passage of the Home Rule Act in the 1970s, Charleston County Council adopted the Council-Administrator form of government.
Interesting Facts
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Council members serve on a part-time basis and come from all walks of life. |
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There are seven standing Council committees . They are: Planning/Public Works; Public Safety/Health; Recycling/Solid Waste; Administrative Policy/Rules; Economic Development; Finance; and Audit. Information about meeting times and topics can be provided by the Clerk of Council, as well as on the Council's Calendar found on this website. |
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Contact Information
Lonnie Hamilton, III Public Service Building
4045 Bridge View Drive
North Charleston, SC 29405
(843) 958-4030
(843) 958-4035 (Fax)
Office Hours
Monday-Friday
8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
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