It was another stormy council meeting in Swansea.

One council member walked out of the June 28 meeting in protest after Mayor Viola McDaniel attempted to block a scheduled conference trip for council members, according to Council Member Michael Luongo.

The mayor opposed the trip to Greenville later this month for council members to attend an annual conference sponsored by the Municipal Association of South Carolina, asserting that the town didn’t have the money to pay for it.

When questioned about town finances, the mayor would not disclose any information about the current budget that would explain why the money was not available, Luongo said. Council members pointed out that funds needed for the trip, estimated at about $2,000, could be made available from the upcoming budget.

Despite the mayor’s opposition, the council voted to approve the conference trip. Luongo said the conference benefits elected officials with educational training.

The Chronicle attempted to reach McDaniel for comment but was unable to get a response.

The arguments between the mayor and some of the council members in the small town of about 700 have been going on for the past several months.

In August of last year, Luongo and Council Member Doris Simmons filed a lawsuit against McDaniel, Town Clerk and Treasurer Margaret Harvey and the town’s auditor, seeking an explanation for a finding in a recent audit that $3 million in town assets were unaccounted for.

The now-former town auditor has maintained that he did offer an explanation for the unaccounted-for assets, explaining that the amounts for fixed assets were omitted for the fiscal year 2021, accounting for the missing $3 million.

McDaniel has since counter-sued, alleging she is being defamed by the legal actions.

So far, no legal proceedings have taken place on the suits.

Luongo said the town recently hired an accountant, which should help address financial issues.

The town is also seeking to hire an administrator, but Luongo said that process is still under way.