BY RON MENCHACA
Of The Post and Courier Staff
GEORGETOWN--Although it raised concerns about private discussions by a public body, the State Ports Authority board met in a social setting Friday night, committing its members to becoming more active in the operations of the nation's fourth busiest container terminal.
The board historically has been criticized for acting as a rubber-stamp for port staff decisions. Gov. Mark Sanford has set out to change that, making four appointments to the board since January.
Board members began arriving for a weekend retreat at the plantation of new board member Harry J. Butler Jr. on Friday evening.
The board had not planned to hold a public meeting. Members hoped to get together informally so new members could get to know the board. But after SPA staff advised such a gathering of public officials to discuss port business would constitute a public meeting, a notice was made public late Wednesday.
When told by The Post and Courier that any port-related issues discussed outside of an official public meeting could constitute a violation of the state's public meeting law, the board officially called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Seven members of the nine-member board talked over dinner and drinks about ways the board could meet more often than once a month. There was also discussion about the SPA taking a more aggressive role in economic development efforts.
The board voted to go into executive session at about 9:15 p.m. to discuss proposed contracts and proposed expansion of an existing industry served by the port.
The meeting included the introduction of new SPA board member Glen Kilgore, a business consultant from Beaufort. He replaces long-time board member Bill Bethea. The board meets again today at 7:30 a.m.
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