Council removes Pine Island litigation item from executive-session agenda

By an 8–2 roll-call vote, Beaufort County councilors removed a Pine Island-related item from the caucus executive-session agenda, saying outside participation and procedural questions made the item inappropriate in its current form.

Council member McAllen moved to eliminate the item entirely, arguing it was ‘‘inappropriate for a member of this litigation to be coming into executive session to discuss his position on this matter’’ and urging it be taken off the agenda. Opponents proposed narrower alternatives — for example, retaining the legal-advice portion while excluding outside parties — and legal counsel noted the specific recently filed federal case referenced involved only the county and Pine Island Property Holdings while a separate matter with interveners is at the court of appeals.

The council debated a substitute motion to remove the item and then conducted a roll-call vote called by the clerk. The clerk read members' names; the recorded votes were: McAllen — yes; Glover — yes; Passamut — yes; Mark Lawson — yes; Dawson — yes; Cunningham — no; Brown — no; Bartholomew — yes; Vice Chair Tabernick — yes; Chair Howard — yes. The chair declared the motion passed. Council members and counsel noted the governing clerk would still provide legal advice under the cited South Carolina statutes if council later wanted a legal briefing without outside participants.

The removal means that the Pine Island negotiation/settlement discussion will not occur in executive session at this caucus; council members said it could be reintroduced later with appropriate notice and participation arrangements.