1. Speech read and submitted by Vicki Simons

My name is Vicki Simons. I live in Mr. Napier’s district.

This is a Public Hearing on an “Ordinance Amending Chapter 2, Administration, Article II, Council, ‘Generally,’ ‘Standing Committees,’ ‘Rules of Procedure,’ and ‘Preservation of Council Actions'” — with selected details appearing on pages 46-64 of the July 15, 2025, CC Docs document.

First, please note that nowhere in the June 17, 2025, agenda (First Reading on this ordinance), nor in tonight’s agenda (Public Hearing and Old Business >Second Reading), does the language indicate that this is a proposed change to the County’s “Code of Laws” or “Code of Ordinances”.

Whether this was an oversight or a deliberate omission, I strongly object to the lack of transparency that this wording presents.

Second, we know that whenever a bill is introduced in the SC House or SC Senate –that proposes one or more changes to the South Carolina Code of Laws — it contains markings showing additions to and deletions from the existing law.

As an example, I show in my speech a screenshot from H.3457, with these changes to the text:

— both additions (underlined text);
— and deletions (strikethroughs).

In the CC Docs document for tonight’s meeting, this ordinance is completely devoid of these markings!

By failing to add markings showing proposed additions to and deletions from the Code of Ordinances, whomever worked up this proposed ordinance has made it very difficult for Aiken County Voters — your bosses — to understand what is going on.

I strongly object to the “lack of markings” in the proposed ordinance change.

In my opinion, this lack of transparency reflects badly on both Aiken County Government and Aiken County Council.

Third, part of the proposed change shows a reversal of the order of the “Informal meeting of the whole” and “Executive session” in the “Order of business” for Council meeting agendas, as appears in Sec. 2-57 of the Code of Ordinances.

Please note:

the existing code lists

(14) Informal meeting of whole.
(15) Executive session (if allowed by state law).

Whereas the proposed code lists

(13) Executive session.
(14) Items requiring action on matters discussed in executive session.
(15) Informal meeting of the whole.

I strongly oppose this change because it would codify a marginalization of the very people whom you were elected to represent!

By way of background, Dictionary.com lists one definition of the word “marginalize” as: “to place in a position of minor or marginal importance, significance, relevance, or effect.”

As you may know, Aiken County, South Carolina, is larger than the State of Rhode Island and it takes considerable effort for Aiken County residents from outlying areas to attend meetings in person.

What effect on attendees would reversing the order of the “Informal meeting of the whole” and “Executive session” in the “Order of business” have?

A recent example was what happened during Council’s meeting on April 15, 2025, when Council members went into Executive Session at 7:19 p.m. and returned to the chambers at 8:33 p.m. — over an hour later!

Forcing people to wait to speak on matters important to them during long Council meetings may be considered a form of censorship that undermines their Creator-endowed right of freedom of speech.

Fourth, the agenda for the April 15, 2025, meeting shows that the Executive Session came before the Informal Meeting of the Whole, contrary to what is currently written in the Code of Ordinances!

So, is it the case that Council now wants to try to cover up that error?

No one on Aiken County Council has provided even one compelling reason for reversing the order of the agenda items known as:

–the Executive Session and
–the Informal Meeting of the Whole.

In fact, I propose moving the so-called “Informal Meeting of the Whole” toward the beginning of the agenda, similar to how the City of Aiken structures their agendas, so that the people of Aiken County will feel valued and heard during County Council meetings.

As an example, on their July 14, 2025, meeting agenda, the City of Aiken {that is, the City Council] had “Non-Agenda Items From The Public” listed as the third item on their agenda immediately following Minutes and Presentations.

Fifth, the term “Informal meeting of the whole” is not very descriptive.

I request that Council members work with the Aiken County Administrator to determine a more descriptive name for that section of the agenda, perhaps what one Aiken County citizen has already submitted:
“Citizen Comments on Non-Agenda Items.”

For the five reasons I have listed, I am requesting that Council “table” taking action on this ordinance until all of these issues are addressed in keeping with what is best for the people of Aiken County.

Do you have any questions?

2. Comments Submitted and Read, in Part, by Don Moniak

Re: Public Hearing of “Ordinance Amending Chapter 2, Administration, Article II, Council, ‘Generally,’ ‘Standing Committees,’ ‘Rules of Procedure,’ and ‘Preservation of Council Actions.’

1 .Amendments should be made clear before moving forward.

The CC docs (Pages 46-64) fail to identify the amendments being made. One has to go back and forth from the existing ordinances to the proposed amended ordinances to determine what changes are actually proposed.

For this reason alone the item should be Continued to the next meeting; until sentences struck are shown to be struck, and sentences added are shown to be added.

2. IMOTW should precede Executive Session in the Order of Business

The proposal includes amending Section 2-57-Order of Business by placing the Informal Meeting of the Whole (IMOTW) after Executive Session (Pages 59-60). The proposed Order of Business reverses the current order. The existing Order of Business lists the IMOTW before the Executive Session, and rightfully so. There is no need to amend this order.

The Order of Business should read as follows:

(13) IMOTW (or Citizen Comments on Non Agenda Items–see #3 below)(14) Executive Session (if allowed by state law)
(15) Items Requiring Action on Matters Discussed During Executive Session

The reason for this could not be more simple and clear: County residents who travel to meetings for the purpose of addressing Council should not have to wait until after Council conducts a scheduled Executive Session before having the opportunity to publicly air their ideas, thoughts, and concerns.

3. The “Informal Meeting of the Whole” should be retitled as “Citizen Comments on Non Agenda Items.”

This approach would convey the actual meaning (Citizen Comments) of the agenda item, and make clear that this period of time is designed for non agenda items–unless 2/3rds of Council approve hearing public comments on an agenda item during what is now the IMOTW (see Section 2-59(c)).

As it presently stands, and is proposed, the title “Informal Meeting of the Whole” provides little to no indication that citizen comment is sought and accepted in a structured manner.

4. The existing Section 2-57(12) regarding public presentations, which is proposed for removal from the Order of Business, should be moved to the Work Session.

Under Sec 2-55(c), Council proposes to have public presentations during committee meetings–which are already strained for time to conduct regular Council business. I suggest that Sec 2-55(c) be amended to place public presentations (what is now Sec 2-57(12)) during Work Sessions–which routinely end early.

5. County citizens and media members should have access to complete agenda packets on the same day as Council.

Section 2-55(a) should be amended to read that all parties shall receive the complete agenda package on the Friday before meetings, which is when Council members receive the package.

Thank you for considering these comments.

Don Moniak
County Resident–District 6
Aiken, SC 29801