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Council approves substitute appointment for Riverbanks Park Commission after split vote
Summary
Councilwoman Cooper offered a substitute motion to appoint Elizabeth Portee to an at‑large Riverbanks Park Commission seat instead of the committee's recommended Cecilia Forneal; the substitute motion passed after debate and roll call.
The Richland County Council approved a substitute appointment to the Riverbanks Park Commission on April 21 after a substitute motion and a brief discussion. Rules and Appointments had recommended Cecilia Forneal for an at‑large seat, but Councilwoman Gretchen D. Cooper moved to substitute Elizabeth Portee for the vacancy, arguing the original nominee already served on another Riverbanks body and the new seat should go to a different person to expand representation.
The substitute motion was seconded and debated. Council members clarified that the Riverbanks Zoo Society position and the Riverbanks Commission seat are separate offices and that the society would likely fill any vacancy created by the shift. After discussion, the substitute motion passed on roll call (the transcript records the vote results) and Elizabeth Portee was selected to fill the commission vacancy.
Council members who spoke in support said the substitute created an opportunity to expand the pool of people serving on Riverbanks boards; others noted respect for the committee process. The appointment will be reflected in the county’s appointment records and any subsequent onboarding required by the Riverbanks Commission.
