Outside eyes peer in on West Union meeting

With only four members who meet in a small meeting room to represent their town, West Union Town Council meetings are often informal, relaxed and filled with banter common to small town government.  And that’s quite OK according to a visitor from Columbia who was asked to evaluate whether West Union follows proper meeting procedures.  At the invitation of Mayor Linda Oliver, Jeff Shacker of the South Carolina Municipal Association listened and watched last night and reached the conclusion there’s little that should be changed about the way the meetings are run.  And that’s in spite of Mayor Oliver making clear if there’s something she’s doing wrong, she’d like to know so she can make a change.  About the only real recommendation that the field services manager for the state association left behind was a suggestion that the town keep a copy of proper meeting procedures, such as Robert’s Rules of Order.  Shacker says he maintains an abridged version, even though Robert’s Rules he believes are not totally ideal for municipal governing bodies.  Robert’s Rules have a long history, but Shacker surprised last night’s meeting by saying they have a South Carolina background, as a small Jasper County town, Robertville, is the birthplace of the author of the meeting conduct rules.