BRANCHVILLE – Tensions continue between Branchville Mayor Tim Cooner and Councilwoman Georgianna Harmon, with the issue seeming to come to the fore during Monday night’s regular town council meeting.
Harmon questioned numerous items in regards to the monthly financial report, indicating deposits are not being transcribed over to the monthly Budget Detail report. She also questioned regular monthly checks to individuals who are not included in the town’s budget.
Harmon said the monthly reports rarely match and although this was an issue she had been bringing up to council for several months, council members routinely approved the reports anyway.
“I don’t feel like council takes this seriously.” Harmon said. “Everything I’ve said so far has been ignored.
Councilwoman Amy Bryant took issue with Harmon’s remarks, saying she did, in fact, take her role seriously.
In response to a question from the press, Cooner said the town’s most recent audit was unqualified, meaning there were no material findings by C.C. McGregor.
The town uses Quickbooks financial software, which Cooner noted was not really designed to handle municipal finances. He said the proper finance software would cost the town about $20,000. Council members asked about purchasing the software, as there appeared to be enough money in the General Account to make the purchase. But Cooner said the funds in the General Account would be needed to keep the town operating through December, the end of the fiscal year.
Harmon also asked Cooner if he had checked with the State Budget and Control Board concerning whether or not Branchville’s new water tower was insured.
Cooner responded that the tower was insured, then proceeded to ask council to vote on Harmon taking on day-to-day administrative responsibilities for the town, going so far as to place the keys to Branchville Town Hall on the table in front of Harmon.
In other business, council members voted to consider using a building near the town’s recreation field as a temporary site for the town library. Harmon volunteered to contact the Orangeburg County Library to determine if they would allow Branchville to have a free-standing library.
The tone of the council meetings was addressed during public comments by Branchville resident Melody Etheridge, who said the rudeness exhibited during the July meeting made her ashamed.
T&D Correspondent Phyllis A. Overstreet can be reached by e-mail at paoverstreet@bellsouth.net.