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Short agenda at Johnston Town Council leads to much discussion web posted July 13, 2010 JOHNSTON – The Johnston Town Council July meeting Monday night was a very cordial and lighthearted with no business listed on the agenda and the town council quickly made its was through approval of minutes and reports. Mayor Andy Livingston made a comment about the financial reports advising the monies from the Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOT) had not been received to date, but were expected soon. “I’m not going to spend a lot of time on that,” Mayor Livingston said adding that the true figures will be available at the next meeting once the funds have been received. The Mayor also said he would like town council members to meet with department heads respective to their committee assignments. “No specific agenda, just talk,” he said. The Mayor said he would like to have the committees report back at the next meeting in August. The Community Development Committee (Council members Stone and Miller) was singled out to speak with business owners and merchants to see what they would like to see taking place in the Town of Johnston. The Mayor said he would like to see them get some ideas and come up with a survey to send out to get more ideas. Next on the agenda was an added item called the “Office of the Town Council”. Mayor Livingstone explained this was an open forum section added to the agenda to give council members to speak their minds on any issues that concerns then and that no votes or motions would be taken during the session. “Though something that is discussed could come up for a vote afterwards,” Mayor Livingston said. Councilman Tommy Burton spoke saying he had several items he would like to discuss. Burton opened by saying that the town is moving in the right direction on getting property owners to clean up problem properties and praised the Mayor and Police Chief Aston and his department for the work they are doing. After his introduction Burton got right to his points, “On June the 26th I was approached by two angry young men about the house on the corner of Johnson Street and Andrews Street.” Burton said a family member and another young man stated to him that he (Burton) had “something to do with the yard being cleaned up”. Burton admitted he did and said, “It looks good doesn’t it?” “He pointed his finger in my face and told me the only reason he wouldn’t beat my ass there, is because I’d call the police,” Burton continued. “This wanna be thug, possibly a drug dealer, standing there with him, called me every derogatory name he can think of.” “It’s not just me wanting things cleaner. There’s people in the neighborhood that have been complaining. They elected me as their representative and that is what I am trying to do,” Councilman Burton said. After experiencing the confrontation with the two young men Mr. Burton said, “I see why we have senior citizens in this town afraid to make a complaint to law enforcement and feel the retaliation.” Councilman Burton said he has been approached by three senior citizens that informed him that after filing a complaint, they were approached by the other party filing the complaint. “That is not supposed to be that way,” Burton said. One request he had for Mayor Livingston was to reinstitute a practice of former Mayor Dean Campbell in which members of council could report problem properties in their Ward and then the mayor would follow up with code enforcement and deliver back updates. Mayor Livingston said Councilman Burtons points were well taken and that he was acting as a responsible elected leader to bring the issues and concerns of his ward to the attention of the town council. “You’re not out for Tommy Burton, you’re out for the neighborhood and the community and I agree with that.” The Mayor said that is the way the town government works. Each council member is elected from a different ward, the people contact them about issues, and the council members contact him, “and I take action.” On the suggestion Mayor Livingston said, “As much as I hate to copy anything Dean Campbell did, we will. I think it’s a good process.” Under the Mayor’s report, Livingston said the lease on the medical building has been signed and the town has already received the first payment. He also mentioned a letter received from a Salley resident that was involved in an incident in Johnston that praised Police Chief Chris Aston. “He wrote a letter back to the town expressing his gratitude for the professionalism, courteous attitude, expert knowledge, and patience in handling the situation.” Mayor Livingston then thanked Chief Aston for providing his services that “put a good face” on the Town of Johnston even in an unpleasant experience. Mayor Livingston reminded everyone that the next Farmers Market and Arts will be taking place this Thursday from 4 until 6:30 pm. “It has taken off faster than I thought it would,” the Mayor said. He gave a special credit to Ann Roberts Smith who he said has done a great deal to see that the events are a success. Before ending the meeting Mayor Livingston said he wanted to speak to all elected officials, not just those in Johnston, but other towns and the county. “You did the hard part, you got elected,” he said, adding that he would like to see more elected officials attending events in the town’s and the county. With no other business the meeting was adjourned. © Copyright 2010 EdgefieldDaily.com All original
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