Irmo Mayor Address Absence from Council Meeting

At Irmo Town Council's meeting Tuesday night — Mayor Pro Tem Barry A. Walker Sr. and councilman Paul Younginer.

Missing were Irmo Mayor Hardy King and councilman Harvey Hoots.

Hoots said he was unable to attend the meeting because of work, but King's reason for missing the meeting was unknown.

Until now.

At Tuesday's meeting, council was scheduled to do the following:

• Review applicants for consideration and the appointment of the 2012 Okra Strut Administrator
• Determine which available property best meet the town's requirement for a new park and then move to negotiate/purchase the property

King said since Hoots did not show up to the meeting, there would only be three people present to vote on those issues.

A majority vote is needed in order to pass an action, King said. With only three members present, only two members needed to agree in order for an item to pass.

“By not being there that means anything on that agenda could pass with two votes,” King said. “Two votes is not anywhere near a majority of four council members or five council members.”

“I think it’s pathetic for government to try to pass major spending such as $500,000 for land or the hiring of someone’s wife with only two votes," King said. "Because of knowing that’s what he was doing, by not showing up, that’s why I waited for him to attend.”

Hoots' wife, Susan, was for the appointment.

Harvey Hoots has recused himself from any discussion or vote on the appointment.

King said Susan Hoots appointment would be an , which prohibits favoring relatives for employment.

He also said council was trying to find a way around a town ordinance that requires a majority of the council to approve hiring a relative to work for the town.

King said he was only a cell phone call away from the meeting and that he was waiting to be notified when Hoots arrived.

He said Hoots was trying to wait until after council had discussed the Okra Strut administrator position before coming to the meeting. In fact, King said he saw Hoots' vehicle in town before the meeting.

Hoots, however, said that's not the case.

“I had let everyone know that I had been delayed with business,” Hoots said. “I just couldn’t make it back in time.”

“I was not in town. I was in Florence County. We were in a conglomerate meeting in the town of Effingham preparing for the upcoming hurricane season.”

Hoots sent an email minutes before the meeting to confirm he wouldn't make it.

As for the ethics violations, Hoots said there are none.

He said the S.C. Ethics Commission and the town’s attorney, Jake Moore, researched the issue and found that there was no violation in hiring his wife.

“It’s just that he doesn’t like it,” Hoots said. "He has a grudge against the Okra Strut. He has made that very clear over the years.”

“He wants everything his way and if it’s not he’s going to muddy the water and use stall tactics like this fiasco he pulled Tuesday night.”

Walker said King should've notified council that he wasn't going to attend the meeting.

"It doesn't make any sense," Walker said. "By not showing up, there's no reason for that."

King said he still thinks council should wait until the fifth member is elected before making any decisions on the administrator position or the land purchase for a new town park.

A special meeting has been called for 6 p.m. Friday at the Municipal Building at 7300 Woodrow St.

The agenda includes discussion of available property for a new town park but nothing on the appointment of the Okra Strut administrator.