State legal office declines Westminster opinion

Sources in position to know say the office of South Carolina Attorney General has chosen against giving a legal opinion on the potential of a conflict of interest involving a Westminster councilman and his wife, who works as the clerk-treasurer.  101.7/WGOG NEWS has been told that an October 19 letter from Cydney Milling, assistant attorney general, reads as follows:  “We received your letter dated October 13, 2020 addressed to Attorney General Alan Wilson requesting an attorney’s general opinion.  Two of your questions appear to involve the interpretation of the Ethics Reform Act. The Ethics Commission imposes primary authority with respect to any interpretation of the Ethics Act. Therefore, we advise you to contact the Ethics Commission in regard to these questions. Your main questions pertain to the timing of an employee’s employment and a city councilman’s service in relation to a nepotism policy that has been adopted by a vote and an attempt to be adopted again by the city council. The answer to these questions involves a determination of fact. This office, unlike a court, cannot investigate and determine factual questions. Therefore I regret to inform you that we will not be able to issue an opinion to you as requested.” Consideration of city clerk designation was one of the items re4served for last night’s executive session.  According to Mayor Ramey, no vote was taken after the council reconvened into a public session.