Richland County Council takes new look at how it votes

Richland County Council agreed Tuesday to take a second look at how its 11 members vote.

Councilman Jim Manning proposed increasing the number of recorded votes on some – but not all – decisions so the public can know who favors and who opposes measures.

His plan would require a record of how council members stand on final approval of measures if there is disagreement as well as on one-time decisions.

Roll-call votes still would not occur on what council members consider procedural items, such as approval of minutes, noncontroversial matters and adjournment.

Manning described the plan as “doing a hybrid” that assures recorded votes on major matters.

It will be studied for possible changes, but he predicted it’s mostly what will be adopted.

Consideration of the changes come after complaints erupted when council members rejected an effort last month to require many more votes showing how they stand.

“It’s due to a lot of attention to that decision and voter outcry,” said Councilman Seth Rose, sponsor of the change turned down.

He called the new proposal a start that’s “imperfect.”

It won’t apply to many preliminary decisions on which council members split in developing a proposal that then breezes to final acceptance after compromise, he said.

“Still, I’m happy to see this first step,” Rose said.