The Town of Irmo is now one of many municipalities statewide that allow for electronic participation by officials during government meetings.

At its regularly scheduled July 18 meeting, Irmo Town Council held second reading and final reading to allow council members to participate electronically, something multiple other Lexington County municipalities already allow.

As with first reading in June, all council members, with the exception of Mayor Barry Walker, voted yes.

According to Council Member Barbara Waldman, the change would allow for members to attend and participate electronically under unusual and exceptional circumstances. She said this is helpful because the circumstances that impact whether members can physically be in the room can’t always be controlled.

“The individual who would be attending electronically, would be visible on the screens so that the public can see them and hear them. It would be no different than being present, physically and being sitting up here away from the public,” Waldman said. “What it does do is it allows, under extenuating circumstances, for a council member who continues to serve and fulfill their obligations as a council member. We're not talking about being able to do two things at once.”

Council Member Erik Sickinger told those in attendance at the June meeting that technology has introduced the opportunity for additional venues for communication, including when a member is remote.

Sickinger added that participating electronically can occur when a family member is sick, if a council member is experiencing plane delays, or cannot attend for an unforeseeable reason. He mentioned that he is not asking for the ability for council to constantly and consistently  not be present.

Walker countered Sickinger, saying members of council can call the town administrator to inform him that they will be unable to participate in an upcoming meeting.

“The virtual meetings are a disservice to this entire community. To change our meeting procedures will nullify citizens of their ability to address their option, their opinion and the votes we're about to make,” Walker said. “We were elected to attend 12 meetings a year in person. Citizens expect us to engage with the public, live here and see interactions of the public.”

The mayor said that council will continue to treat members who can’t attend with respect, mentioning that if they are considering something such as a major expenditure they would postpone the vote until all can be present.

“But to allow you to sit at an iPad, in your ICU bed, because you've got in a wreck or sit at an iPad because you're in the LAX airport and sign on to a council meeting and pay attention to what's going on and be in front of the citizens who pay our salary is just not what they pay for,” Walker said. “It's not what they hired us for. It's not what you got elected for.”

“You got elected to be in the council chambers representing the Town of Irmo, live in front everybody,” he said.

During the July meeting, Sickinger said council members wouldn’t be hiding behind an iPad.

“If a council member is not present, they are not hiding behind anything.” Sickinger said “In fact, they're taking extra measures to be present and not hide.”

Walker also leaned on how the state Legislature requires members to be present in the chamber and does not allow for electronic participation.

Scott Slatton, director of advocacy for the Municipal Association of South Carolina, told the Chronicle that electronic participation is acceptable and “just fine.”

“You would want to have a physical quorum present at the meeting location and then you would want to have a couple of conditions on the person who is participating,” he said “No. 1, they have to be able to hear everything that is taking place in the meeting and the meeting room. No. 2, everyone in the meeting room would have to be able to hear them.”

Slatton said the association encourages towns and cities to incorporate electronic participation as part of their rules of order. By setting these as ordinances, it allows council to follow the set conditions agreed upon.

Some residents expressed their dislike for electronic participation.

“There are 12 meetings a year, mayor and council logging in from wherever to participate will add some type of cost for the town to accommodate this request,” said Marie Ryan, who has spearheaded the effort to install the Friarsgate Skatepark in Irmo. “As a registered voter, homeowner and member of the skate park committee, I don't feel my elected officials can accurately represent my interests if they can't attend 12 meetings a year and appear in person”.

Harvey Hoots, former mayor-pro tem for the town, also expressed displeasure at the potential change.

“I believe that what you're asking to do violates our town code that clearly outlines how and when town council meetings are to be held,” Hoots said. “I was on council for over 25 years. We never voted on any important issues without a full council seated. Be it sick, vacation, business trips, whatever, we worked it all out so that all five people was seated and staring their constituents in the face “

Slatton said that since the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought new circumstances to councils across the state, more towns and cities allow electronic participation.

“Allowing them to be able to participate is very important, obviously, because they are representing a segment of the city or their district or maybe they're at-large and representing all the residents,” Slatton said. “So you don't want to necessarily deprive those residents of that representation on the council.”

The Chronicle reached out to the county and other in-county municipalities to confirm what they allow when it comes to electronic participation.

County Council

According to a county ordinance, passed in April of this year, council members are able to participate and vote electronically under extenuating circumstances.

The ordinance states that “extenuating circumstances” means illness of a council member or a death in a council member's family.

Batesburg-Leesville Town Council

According to Town Administrator Ted Luckadoo, Batesburg-Leesville does not allow for electronic participation. He said that during COVID, electronic attendance was allowed as part of the town's emergency declaration.

Luckadoo added that the town has not given much consideration to allowing it.

Lexington Town Council

According to Laurin Barnes, communications manager for the Town of Lexington, council members are able to connect remotely via telephone, skype or computer for work sessions or other informal council meetings for the purpose of listening.

Council members are unable to participate in formal discussions or voting. Electronic participation for voting is only authorized under matters deemed an emergency.

Members attending remotely are not counted as present.

Chapin Town Council

According to Nicolle Burroughs, Chapin’s town administrator, the town has previously allowed council members to participate electronically under a state of emergency. 

She added that for boards and commissions, particularly committees, electronic participation is allowed for consultants and when a medical emergency or otherwise appropriate reason is approved.

Cayce City Council

According to a city ordinance, council members are able to participate electronically under certain situations:

“Upon notice in accord with the notice required for meetings pursuant to the state Freedom of Information Act, the mayor, upon advice of the city manager, may designate that, due to emergency or other similar circumstances rendering unsafe or impractical a meeting with all members physically present, a meeting of council will be held as an electronic meeting with council members allowed to attend, participate and vote by electronic means (defined as telephonic, broadcast video, computer-based, or other electronic media, or any combination thereof).”

West Columbia City Council

According to Anna Huffman, director of public relations for the city, council members for West Columbia are able to participate electronically.

Gaston Town Council

According to the town, Gaston does allow for electronic participation but hasn’t yet used it.