BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. — The Beaufort County Finance Committee on Thursday approved a resolution asking county council to authorize the county administrator to execute memorandums of agreement (MOAs) with the Town of Bluffton, the Town of Hilton Head and the Beaufort County School District to continue live coverage, public broadcasting, recording and archiving of government meetings and events.

Chris Virga, identified in the meeting as the county’s broadcasting services director, told the committee staff reviewed records and could not find a prior council vote explicitly authorizing the administrator to sign such MOAs. “We could not find a record of counsel approving, for this for the, administrator to execute these MOAs,” Virga said, adding that legal staff advised formalizing the authority so the administrator could execute agreements going forward.

The committee moved the resolution to council by motion and second and approved forwarding it without objection. Committee members said the MOAs reflect existing practices and relationships with the towns and school district and noted the value of preserving an archive of public meetings.

The action sends a recommendation to county council to authorize the county administrator to execute the agreements; final approval will rest with council. Virga thanked committee members for the opportunity to formalize the practice and said the recorded and archived coverage is important to the department and the wider community.