Committee re-advertises hospitality tax vacancies; appoints Joseph Cerniglia

The Richland County Rules and Appointments Committee approved two personnel actions: it voted to re-advertise two vacancies on the hospitality tax committee after the sole applicant for that vacancy failed to appear, and it appointed Joseph Cerniglia to a vacancy listed under Item 6b.

The committee went into executive session to conduct interviews. When members reconvened, Chair reported the hospitality tax applicant was not present and that the committee had interviewed Lorraine Eck (the transcript does not specify whether Eck was appointed). A motion to re-advertise the hospitality tax committee vacancies was made and approved unanimously.

Later, committee members moved and seconded a motion to appoint Joseph Cerniglia to the vacancy described in Item 6b; the motion carried with recorded affirmative votes. Committee members thanked the clerk's office for maintaining vacancy schedules and confirmed that advertisement for approved items will run beginning Friday, with applications accepted for about four weeks and interviews scheduled in May.

The transcript does not attach Joseph Cerniglia to a specific board in the motion text; the appointment is recorded as the committee’s selection for the vacancy listed in Item 6b of the packet. The committee also noted it will return to any item that requires further action after coordinating with relevant boards and the clerk’s office.

Next procedural steps: staff will republish the hospitality tax committee advertisement, accept applications through April, and schedule interviews in May.