More words traded about the idea of a town hall meeting

Town hall meetings are common in New England as a way for government there to do business, but quibbling over some words appears to have created an obstacle to scheduling an Oconee County town hall meeting.  The county Republican Party today released comments by its chairman, Jim Mann, along with a printed copy of what Matthew Durham, the county council chairman, said Tuesday night in response to the GOP’s invitation.  Mann accuses Durham of rewording the party’s invitation to fit Durham’s narrative that participation by the councilmen in a public town hall meeting would constitute a quorum, and  Mann concluded his comments by saying, “Our invitation for an all-county council public town hall event is still open.” At council’s Tuesday meeting, Durham’s reply to the invitation stated, “You may not be aware, but if all 5 council members participate in a town hall meeting, it would constitute a quorum, and the meeting would be deemed a county council meeting, necessitating compliance with South Carolina open meeting laws.”  In response at the meeting to Newry-Corinth Republican Luke Moore, county attorney David Root confirmed Durham’s take, but went on to say such a town hall meeting would be lawful if the Freedom of Information requirements are met.