THIS MEETING HAS BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO SC GOVERNOR 4 P.M. PRESS RELEASE
Greenville City Council (Not Greenville County) is considering a two-week shelter-in-place ordinance and will be voting today, Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at 4 p.m.
As of 9 a.m. the day of voting, according to SC DHEC's Coronavirus statistics there are only 88 cases in all of Greenville County with an aproximate population of 500,000. That's one person for every 5,681 people.
This ordinance is in direct violation of the opinion issued by the Attorney General last Friday morning, which states that "local government cannot exercise the emergency powers delegated to the Governor by the General Assembly. Therefore, counties and municipalities should be aware that any unauthorized exercise of such emergency powers could subject these political subdivisions to liability at the behest of a private citizen with requisite legal standing."
According to Beth Brotherton, Director of the city’s newly created Department of Communications and Neighborhood Relations, said that the following are the main aspects of the proposed ordinance.
- The ordinance, if passed, would be effective at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, April 2, 2020 and would be in effect for 2 weeks.
- Residents and non-residents are required to stay at home unless providing or requiring an essential service or engaging in responsible outdoor recreation.
- Individuals, who must go out for purposes of working at or conducting business with any Essential Service provider or for purposes of outdoor rec, shall practice social distancing of at least six feet with the exception of those traveling in the same vehicle.
- Social gatherings of ten or more people, for any reason other than working at or receiving Essential Services is prohibited per CDC guidelines.
- Essential Service providers, vendors and persons conducting Essential Service operations shall take all reasonable measures, including limiting the number of individuals in their place of business, to ensure social distancing of at least six feet.
- Bars and restaurants which prepare, produce, or otherwise offer or sell food or beverages, of any kind, shall be prohibited from permitting dine-in or on premises consumption of food or beverages whether indoors or outdoors. They may continue to offer pickup, take out, or delivery services for consumption off-premises.
- Non-essential service providers, and persons who are working at or conducting business with non-essential service providers, may conduct business with individual persons by appointment, provided that no appointment times are double-booked and social distancing of 6 feet can be maintained.
- Recreation: individuals should limit outdoor recreational activities to those that allow for social distancing of at least six feet, and do not entail coming into close contact with other people or involve the sharing of equipment.
- Consequence: a person who fails to comply with this ordinance shall be guilty of a civil infraction, punishable by a fine of not less than $100.00. Each day of a continuing violation of this article shall be considered a separate and distinct offense.
You can contact City Council via the info below to voice your opinion regarding this possible "shelter-in-place" ordinance.
KNOX WHITE
Mayor
Phone: 864-467-4590
JOHN DEWORKEN
District 1
Phone: 864-905-5529
LILLIAN B. FLEMMING
District 2
Phone: 864-241-8677
KEN GIBSON
District 3
Phone: 864-326-0450
WIL BRASINGTON
District 4
Phone: 864-421-3047
DOROTHY DOWE
At Large
Phone: 864-884-4444
RUSSELL STALL
At Large
Phone: 864-430-0636
