Blythewood council authorizes lawsuit seeking to block mayor’s executive order

The Blythewood Town Council voted 4-1 on Feb. 3 to authorize the town attorney to file for declaratory and injunctive relief against Mayor Sloane Griffin in his official and/or individual capacity over Executive Order No. 3, which council members said was issued without adequate notice or council input.

The motion, made after a closed executive session, directs the town attorney to initiate civil action and authorizes hiring outside counsel. Councilwoman Fripp made the motion and Councilman McKendrick seconded. The roll call recorded Councilwoman Paige, Mayor Pro Tem Donald Brock, Councilwoman Fripp and Councilman McKendrick voting yes; Mayor Sloane Griffin voted no.

The debate centered on the mayor’s use of executive authority to create and fill positions outside what some council members said had been approved in the budget. Councilwoman Fripp said the council had attempted negotiation in executive session and described the lack of pre-issuance consultation with council members. “It is ridiculous that our town government has gotten to the point that we are at this evening,” Councilwoman Fripp said. She added later, “You are misleading these people and you are playing the victim,” criticizing the mayor’s timing and communications with the public.

Mayor Sloane Griffin defended the staffing decisions and said he would “fight for the positions that Blythewood needs to thrive and grow.” He said position justifications had been circulated in December and argued the roles were needed to address growth, marketing and operational gaps.

During public discussion and later in council remarks, members repeatedly urged rescinding the executive order and using scheduled budget workshops as a forum for resolving hiring and budget questions. Multiple council members asked for a temporary stay or rescission of Executive Order No. 3 to allow negotiation ahead of the council’s budget process; the mayor declined to rescind the order during the meeting.

Former Mayor Bailey and resident commenters urged leaders to avoid litigation and to prioritize town operations and communication. Bobby Young, the lone signer for public comment, urged officials to focus on town cleanliness and services rather than a public conflict.

The council’s action authorizes the town attorney to pursue litigation and to retain outside counsel. Council members who supported the motion said they viewed litigation as a last resort after attempts at negotiation failed during the executive session. Council members who opposed litigation urged continued negotiation and rescission of the executive order without legal action; Mayor Griffin cast the lone no vote.

The council also debated and approved procedural changes earlier in the meeting, including moving the public comment period later in the agenda to follow executive session discussions. That procedural motion was made and seconded and carried by voice vote.

Next steps: the town attorney will determine whether to file suit and whether to retain outside counsel. Council members discussed scheduling budget workshops in mid-to-late February as a forum for additional negotiation and clarification of staffing needs and funding.

The meeting record shows the dispute arose from Executive Order No. 3 (dated Jan. 2025) and centered on creation and filling of positions the mayor said were needed to respond to rapid town growth. The council’s formal vote authorizes legal action; no lawsuit had been filed by the end of the meeting.