Resident says agendas delay public input; mayor cites FOIA compliance and offers meeting

Ethan Anderson, a resident who signed up for public comment, told the Laurens City Council that "our town is changing in ways that are deeply concerning and people deserve answers before deals are signed and not after." He said agendas were not available early enough for citizens to sign up and that the sign-up timing limits who can speak on council items.

Mayor (name not provided in the record) replied that public comment periods are an accommodation rather than a statutory requirement and that the city "has complied with the requirements of the law of the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, which requires that agendas be posted more than 24 hours in advance." The mayor said the city typically posts agendas the week before the meeting and offered to meet with Anderson or have the city administrator speak with him to address his concerns.

The exchange highlighted a procedural dispute over how far in advance agenda items are posted and the practical effect on residents who must arrange time off to attend and sign up. Anderson asserted the city is the first in South Carolina to adopt a housing pattern book (a claim he made during his remarks); the mayor did not corroborate that claim during the meeting and focused instead on statutory posting requirements and alternatives for citizens to raise issues with their ward councilor.

The council did not take formal action on Anderson’s requests during the meeting. The mayor invited follow-up outside the meeting and noted that residents can speak directly with their ward councilors or meet with city staff.

Next steps: no additional agenda action recorded; the mayor offered to arrange a meeting with the city administrator to discuss Anderson’s concerns.