South Carolina General Assembly
103rd Session, 1979-1980

Bill 3653


                    Current Status

Bill Number:               3653
Ratification Number:       576
Act Number                 476
Introducing Body:          House
Subject:                   Relating to the election and terms of
                           commissioners of public works of a
                           municipality
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(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

(A476, R576, H3653)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 5-31-210, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE ELECTION AND TERMS OF COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC WORKS OF A MUNICIPALITY, SO AS TO AUTHORIZE THE GOVERNING BODY OF A MUNICIPALITY WITH A POPULATION OF TWENTY THOUSAND PERSONS OR LESS BY ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR TWO ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONERS OF PUBLIC WORKS AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE ELECTION AND TERMS OF SUCH NEW COMMISSIONERS.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

New commissioners authorized

Section 1. Section 5-31-210 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding at the end:

"In addition to the three members of the board of commissioners of public works of a municipality authorized above, the governing body of a municipality with a population of twenty thousand persons or less may by ordinance provide for the election of two additional commissioners. The new commissioners so authorized by ordinance shall be elected at the next general election for municipal officers following the enactment of the ordinance in the same manner that the other commissioners are elected. The new member receiving the highest number of votes in that general election for municipal officers shall serve for a term of six years and the other new member receiving the next highest number of votes in that general election for municipal officers shall serve for a term of four years. Their successors shall then be elected in the general election for municipal officers every four or six years thereafter for terms of office of six years. The members so elected shall serve until their successors are elected and qualify. Vacancies in these two new positions shall be filled in the same manner as other vacancies on the board of commissioners of public works are filled." The section when amended shall read:

"Section 5-31-210. At any election for bonds held to meet the costs of acquiring property of the character referred to in Section 5-31-610 the elector shall vote for three citizens of the city or town whose terms of office shall be respectively two, four and six years and until the general election for municipal officers next following the expiration of the short term, and until their successors are elected and qualified. The classification above designated as to the term shall be ascertained by the commissioners after election by lot. At each general election for municipal officers following the expiration of the term of the commissioner holding the short term and at every such election every two years thereafter, one such commissioner shall be elected for a term of six years and until his successor is elected and qualified. The officers so elected and their successors in office shall be known as the commissioners of public works of such municipality and by that name may sue and be sued in any of the courts of this State.

In addition to the three members of the board of commissioners of public works of a municipality authorized above, the governing body of a municipality with a population of twenty thousand persons or less may by ordinance provide for the election of two additional commissioners. The new commissioners so authorized by ordinance shall be elected at the next general election for municipal officers following the enactment of the ordinance in the same manner that the other commissioners are elected. The new member receiving the highest number of votes in that general election for municipal officers shall serve for a term of six years and the other new member receiving the next highest number of votes in that general election for municipal officers shall serve for a term of four years. Their successors shall then be elected in the general election for municipal officers every four or six years thereafter for terms of office of six years. The members so elected shall serve until their successors are elected and qualify. Vacancies in these two new positions shall be filled in the same manner as other vacancies on the board of commissioners of public works are filled."

Time effective

Section 2. This act shall take effect upon approval by the Governor.