Greenville County Council adopts new rules after public raises concerns about information requests and remote participation

Greenville County Council on Tuesday adopted a new set of council rules after members of the public and some councilors urged changes to specific provisions governing information requests, remote participation and how planning recommendations are treated.

The rules were approved on a voice vote after discussion in committee and during the council meeting. Councilor Bradley moved to adopt the rules on behalf of the committee; the motion carried by voice vote with no roll-call tally recorded in the transcript.

Members of the public urged the council to revisit three rule changes they said limit transparency and constrain councilors’ interactions with staff. Audrey Pazen, a resident who signed up to speak, said the rules’ Amendment 2 restricts councilors from asking for information from county employees without the chair’s approval and called that ‘‘an unnecessary boundary’’ under the Home Rule Act. Pazen recommended removing the restriction and clarifying language that appears to require councilors to go through the county administrator for certain employees, including the county attorney.

Diane Vreeland, speaking on behalf of the Greenville County Republican Women, asked the council to clarify a remote‑participation clause in Section 3 that says a remotely participating member ‘‘shall be able to be seen and heard at the discretion of the chairman.’’ Vreeland called that phrasing ambiguous and asked whether the chair could prevent a member from being seen or heard. She also proposed letting the public speak at all three readings of ordinances and suggested practical changes to speaker sign‑up locations and online sign‑up availability.

Councilors responding to public comments said the rules were the product of extensive input and that they expect further amendments. Councilor McGaughey thanked residents for suggestions and said the rules include a process that makes future amendments easier. Councilor McGaughey and others encouraged citizens to continue offering feedback and pledged the council would revisit problematic provisions.

The council adopted the rules as moved by the committee. The transcript records a voice vote: "All in favor of the adoption of council rules, please say aye ... the ayes have it." The record does not provide a numeric vote breakdown.

Why it matters: the rules govern how council members interact with staff, how remote participation is handled, and the vote thresholds and procedures the council will use going forward. Speakers at the meeting emphasized that some wording could limit oversight or public access to hearings and information.

What’s next: Councilors said the rules can be amended; members of the public and councilors were invited to submit suggested changes for committee consideration.