Columbia City council adopts amended agenda adding fire-department item and moves into executive session over pending claims

The Columbia City council voted to adopt an amended agenda and then to adjourn into executive session to receive attorney–client legal advice on several pending claims.

Council members first approved an amendment to the agenda to add an item involving the Columbia Fire Department and to add "receipt of legal advice" under South Carolina law. A councilmember moved the amendment; it was seconded and recorded as carried after members called their votes during roll call.

Shortly afterward, a councilmember moved that the council adjourn into executive session "for a seat of legal advice relating to a pending, threatened, or potential claim pursuant to SC Code 30-4-70(a)(2)," citing several matters read aloud in the meeting record, including case names read in the transcript as "Tamara, Newark, Newkirk versus Linden Shea James Harrison," "Margaretta Green versus City of Columbia," and a matter involving the Columbia Fire Department; an additional item was described in the transcript as relating to "Bluff Road." The motion was seconded and approved by roll call.

Peter led the meeting invocation before business began, asking for guidance "for the people of the city of Columbia" and closing with "Amen." The clerk then conducted roll call before the two motions were moved, seconded and recorded.

The council did not state any debate points on the public record during the portions of the meeting captured in the transcript; the motions were procedural and focused on agenda management and a vote to receive legal advice in executive session. The transcript records affirmative roll-call responses from members identified by name; the meeting record then moved to executive session as approved.

The council did not announce a date or time to reconvene in open session in the portion of the transcript provided.