Pelzer offices moved back to Courtney Street

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By David Meade
The Town of Pelzer held their first regular monthly meeting of the new year, with a new mayor, new town council and new municipal clerk.
The new town administration includes Mayor Roger Scott Sr., Councilmembers Eddie Waits, Olene Bear, Michael Matthews and recently named clerk Cheryl Boudreau. Councilman Gary Pridmore was not present due to sickness.
The main items addressed during the business portion of the meeting was operations for the town office.
Mayor Scott announced that the Pelzer Town office has been moved back to Pelzer. and was officially opened Tuesday. The office, which had been located in the West Pelzer municipal center for about six months, is now located in the original town office on Courtney Street.
Scott said all all town business is now being conducted at the office including taking utility payments.
“The people of Pelzer are very happy to see their office opened back up,” the mayor said.
The town office will have new hours, being open from 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday. The office will be closed one hour for lunch.
Olene Bear was named Mayor Pro Tempore.
Council agreed to keep their same meeting date on the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.
They also approved a holiday schedule which includes nine paid holidays for the town clerk. The town offices will be closed for Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and day after, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. There will be two half day on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, the mayor said.
The town clerk will also have five paid sick days.
Scott said that there will be no changes in the joint water/sewer operations agreement with West Pelzer and the joint department will continue as it is.
Mayor Scott said the goal for the town since he and the council were sworn in on Jan. 2 has been getting the town hall back to the offices in Pelzer and taking payments for water bills.
Council met last Monday to hire a town clerk after finding out the former clerk Shane Black had resigned.
Scott said citizens can talk with Cheryl if they have any questions and if she can’t answer them, they can call him.
During the rest of the meeting, there was considerable discussion between members of council and the public, with a citizens input at the beginning and end of the meeting.
Topics ranged from establishing citizens committees, police coverage through Anderson County, ordinances and communication with residents. There was some discussion about cars parking on sidewalks and go-karts being driven on streets by young children.
Councilmembers and the mayor expressed sentiments that they are there for the citizens of the town, that they will do everything they can for the town and that they want the citizens to feel comfortable when they attend council meetings.
Councilmember Olene Bear stated that the Christmas Show at the gym was “one of the best we’ve ever had” and that it was good to see kids playing ball at the gym. She said there will be changes made and that it will be different. “Just your support makes us feel very good,” she said. “We will do everything we can for our little town.”
Councilman Matthews thanked citizens for their support and said “We will give it our very best shot. We are here to help you. We will do everything we can to help the town.” He added, “It is going to be a team effort. You are a part of the team.”
Councilman Waits said the town will explore email and other options as a way to provide community information.
He also said he would like to meet with representatives of local churches to address helping homeless people who live in Pelzer. “I would like to see us partner together and come up with ideas to help these people.”
Mayor Scott said that another change he plans is to allow citizens to speak during council workshops. “I want ya’ll to be comfortable,” he said.
Scott also reported that the town hall has a roof leak and the Town of Pelzer sign that was on the building is missing.
He said a roofer will be called for repairs.