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Volume 3 Issue 9 |
September 7, 2007 |
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Lettitor |
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L ucky to have six grandparents in my life, I grew up with a strong sense of family and its history. This year’s Grandparents Day marks my first with no living grandparents. Instead, I’m helping my boys to choose Grandparents Day cards for Tim’s and my parents in North Carolina . Such is the cycle of l ife . |
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Letter to the editor |
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Dear Lynn and Heather: Catherine Malloy |
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5 challenge 4 incumbents on IOP Council |
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The deadline has come and gone for those wishing to run for the four seats that are up for grabs on the Isle of Palms City Council. There are a total of nine hats in the ring. All four incumbents are running to retain their seats while five challengers are hoping to get their turn. Sandbags, “mini-hotels”, and taxes are some of the issues that have plagued residents on the island. Is it possible that residents are clamoring for change? “I think it is great we have so much interest in this year’s election,” Isle of Palms Mayor Mike Sottile said. “Nine people running for a total of four seats. It just shows the city has been busy the last four years dealing with various issues. My hope is that the residents of the IOP will look real hard at who is running, know what they stand for and educate themselves to all the issues on the Isle of Palms.” The field shapes up as follows:. The elections are scheduled to be held on Tuesday, November 6. Keep looking for an in-depth analysis of all the candidates to be featured in a future issue. |
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S.I. Council turns into two hour pizza party |
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| There were about 20 or so people crammed into a small room sharing slices of pizza, contributing to the ever increasing room temperature, and discussing everything under the sun despite that fact that it was 8:00 at night. Sounds like a fun party. A birthday celebration, perhaps. But there were no candles or presents. In fact, the only present was announcement that everyone was allowed to go back to Council chambers. It was the Sullivan’s Island monthly Town Council meeting. After the first half hour, which was dedicated to public comments the council went into executive session to discuss the candidates for various positions on the Design Review Board (DRB), Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), and Planning Commission. The room was full of interested and concerned citizens who let the council know how they felt. Last month, Everett Presson, Buddy Howle, Mary Jane Watson, and Jerry Kaynard successfully voted against an Historic Preservation ordinance that would have temporarily required owners of homes over 60 years old to go before the DRB before altering or demolishing them. An organized group was present that questioned the motives of these councilmembers. Island resident, Howard Hall was the voice in this issue. He said that Watson owned a 72 year old property, Kaynard owned an 87 year old property, and that Howle’s wife owned a property with a cottage that they believed was at least 60 years old. They also asked if Presson, of Prudential Real Estate, had any contracts to sell properties that were over 60 years old but not on the historic preservation list. Before any councilmembers spoke to defend themselves, Mayor Carl Smith ran to their defense. “I don’t think anyone who voted against [historic preservation ordinance] had ulterior motives. I’ve been sitting here 22 years and I think I have a good perspective on that,” he assured the public. Several attendees also asked council to repeal a variance granted by the BZA that allowed City of Charleston Mayor, Joe Riley, to subdivide a piece property that allows him to sell the majority of it because it has become profitable while retaining access to a dock. The vote to allow the variance was 4-3. It was quickly revealed that two BZA members had ties to Mayor Riley. One was a political appointee while the other was a campaign contributor. “Council has not made any definitive decisions at this time,” Mayor Smith said. It was added that an official order has not been issued by BZA and that council can not respond until that happens. When that order is issued, council has 30 days to take action. Councilman Perkis said that BZA is scheduled to meet on September 14 and Council will meet again on September 18. In addition to these issues, many of those present were interested to know who council would appoint to DRB, BZA, and the Planning Commission. Right after the public comments, council decided to go into executive session to discuss the candidates among other issues. One councilmember suggested that council go to another room since there were so many more residents than councilmembers. However, councilmember Presson, suggested that they stay as they always have and that all the residents should leave. It would be more than two hours before residents would be able to return to council chambers. The majority of which stayed and waited. Pat Votava took names and phone numbers of those who needed to leave but wanted to be contacted when council got out of executive session. After the one hour mark, she suggested ordering pizza since the meeting started at 7:00 and it would go well past 10:00. The fact that I jumped at the opportunity to eat some M&M’s in order to curb my hunger might have helped in that decision. Residents gathered together and collected a pool of money to pay for the community meal. Despite the muggy conditions outside and personal space of a sardine can inside, there was a feeling of community. Although many residents were disappointed and wary of council, it was not angry, like a mob marching on Frankenstein’s castle. Of course, they discussed politics. They also discussed each other’s lives. They laughed and smiled while reminiscing over how things used to be. Stern looks came over their faces as they talked about local current events and heads nodded strongly in agreement as points were made. They sat shoulder to shoulder against walls and desks and anywhere else they could find a spot. There was no clear division. Just a group of people, Sullivan’s Island residents, who cared where this island is heading. Their passion for the island was apparent and inspiring. Finally, as the two hour mark approached, the pizza arrived and slices were handed out. As if this gathering was divinely inspired, an announcement was made that council was finally ready to see their constituency as the pizza was finished. This town is lucky to have a council that is forced to face their residents when making a decision. They faced a room nearly as full as it was two hours earlier when they finally announced the appointees to the BZA, DRB, and Planning Commission. But long after these people serve their time and the world has spun on to another day, one can only hope that the spirit the people shared that night will continue to burn throughout the population of Sullivan’s Island. The faces are etched in my memory and I’ll never forget my first pizza party since moving to South Carolina. Somewhere in the crowd a woman revived an immortal ideal. She said something about everyone being equal, having an equal voice, and being respected. I’m sure I’ve heard it before. It had an ancient ring. There must be something to it. |
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