Chapin mayor to provide attorney contract after council questions access to records; council moves to executive session on personnel

Mayor Bill Mitchell called a special meeting of the Chapin Town Council to order at 2:01 p.m. on Jan. 9, and the council moved into executive session to discuss personnel after several members questioned the mayor about a contracted attorney and interim financial arrangements.

Council Member Vicky Shealy said she has repeatedly requested the contract between the Town of Chapin and special projects attorney Malane Pike and had not received it. She asked how Pike is being paid and what records Pike has accessed, noting that financial records and other town documents had been moved to the mayor’s office. Mayor Bill Mitchell said he had signed the contract and would provide it, and that Pike “does not get access to the records except what he gives her access to.”

Shealy also asked who was overseeing the town’s finance department after the director of finance resigned, saying she understood the interim person was a friend of the mayor’s family and that the position had not been publicly posted or subject to background checks. Mayor Mitchell responded that he contracted with an individual to ensure the town’s 29 employees were paid and to keep operations running following the finance director’s resignation.

Council Member Leland Teal questioned where money for the additional contracts was coming from, saying council historically reviews and approves budget amendments for such expenditures. Mayor Mitchell said the town operates with separate administrative and legislative branches and that he can move money within the budget to accommodate requests.

Before entering executive session, Mayor Mitchell called for a motion to discuss personnel pursuant to South Carolina Code Section 30-4-70(a)(1). Council Member Leland Teal moved to enter executive session; Council Member Mike Clonts seconded. The council voted unanimously to enter executive session at 2:11 p.m. (Mayor Bill Mitchell: Yes; Council Member Leland Teal: Yes; Council Member Vicky Shealy: Yes; Council Member Mike Clonts: Yes). The council returned to open session at 3:05 p.m. and then adjourned.

The meeting minutes note that the council approved the record on Jan. 20, 2026. The minutes identify Malane Pike as the special projects attorney and list Police Chief Thomas Griffin and Municipal Clerk Shannon Bowers as staff present. Mayor Pro Tem Gregg White is recorded as absent.

What happens next: The minutes state Mayor Mitchell said he would provide Pike’s contract. The record does not include further public detail about the interim finance arrangement, any hiring process, budget amendments, or the content of the executive-session discussion.