Blythewood council approves first reading to move to council–manager government; special meeting set for Nov. 10

The Town of Blythewood council voted to approve the first reading of Ordinance 2025.008, which amends the town code to implement a voter‑approved change from a mayor–council to a council–manager form of government.

Town Attorney Pete Balthazar walked council through the ordinance and the code edits it would enact. Balthazar said the ordinance adds a definition of “town manager,” updates references where the previous code used “town administrator,” and moves signing authority for municipal uniform ordinance summonses to the town manager or a designee. He said the changes also bring the town’s meeting‑agenda language into alignment with the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act and clarify that a council member who is present but disqualified from voting due to state law would not be counted for purposes of a quorum on that question.

Balthazar told council that many of the provisions mirror specific State Code sections, including 5‑13‑30 (powers and duties of council under the council–manager form), 5‑13‑90, 5‑13‑70, 5‑13‑60 and 5‑13‑40 (town manager duties and lines of supervision). He noted the town clerk role is changed to an appointment by the town manager under the council–manager structure while positions such as town attorney and municipal judge remain appointed by council.

After clarifying questions about quorum and conflict‑of‑interest language, council voted in favor of the first reading. The mayor pro tem announced that the change in form of government is effective by an earlier ordinance on Nov. 24 and that a special‑call meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Nov. 10 for the ordinance’s second reading and to consider deferred town events.

No public testimony or additional legal findings were offered at the first reading; council scheduled the second reading to occur at the Nov. 10 special meeting so the code edits can be finalized before the Nov. 24 effective date.