A new ordinance gives Chapin Mayor Bill Mitchell the ability to hire and fire some town leaders. 

The ordinance was passed in a 3-1 vote. Mitchell, along with council members Ainslee Bost and Warren Burritt, voted in favor of the ordinance. Councilman Mike Clonts voted against the motion. 

Councilwoman Vicki Shealy was not present at the town council meeting. 

Under the ordinance, Mitchell now has the authority to appoint and terminate the director of finance, the director of the department of planning and zoning, the director of the department of public works and the chief of police. 

All department heads, including those of planning and zoning, public works and utilities, will report to Mitchell. 

Last month, the ordinance passed its first reading in a 3-2 vote. Mitchell, Bost and Burritt voted in favor of the motion, while council members Clonts and Shealy voted against it. 

Mitchell earned 67.87% of the vote cast on Nov. 4. Opponent Ron Colley earned 7.51%, while 24.32% of voters wrote in candidates. Former Mayor Al Koon died unexpectedly in October; he was a candidate for re-election at the time of his death.

In January,  the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division closed its investigation into Mitchell following an allegation of assault. 

The alleged incident was reported to have happened between Mitchell and a town employee at the town hall on Nov. 7, when Mitchell was sworn into office in an impromptu ceremony.