BLYTHEWOOD – The South Carolina Attorney General’s office issued an opinion on Aug. 11, stating that neither the mayor nor any member of a town council can exercise the authority of council without the council’s approval.
It is the second adverse opinion handed down in the last two years by the Attorney General’s office regarding Blythewood Mayor Sloan Griffin’s actions in his capacity as mayor.
The Aug. 11 opinion referred to a letter from the Blythewood town attorney questioning the mayor’s authority, under the council/manager form of government, to issue proclamations and bestow a ‘Community Champion Award’ on behalf of the Town, without the approval of town council.
The issue came up at the June town council meeting after council voted to go into executive session to discuss “receipt of legal advice regarding an internal governance matter involving elected officials and discussion of legal and procedural options available to town council.”…