Winnsboro Town council showed their support to Sen. Creighton Coleman and Rep. Boyd Brown Tuesday night by voting unanimously to sign a resolution in support of the recently passed legislation that will change the responsibility and make-up of the Fairfield County school board.

The resolution stated that the Winnsboro Town council “wholeheartedly supports” H.4431 and H.4432, amending the S.C. Act regarding the responsibilities and the make-up of the Fairfield County school board by forming a five person, legislatively-appointed, finance committee to oversee the school district’s finances and adding two legislatively-appointed, at-large members to the current seven, single-district elected school board members.

Both Mayor Roger Gaddy and council member Bill Haslett recommended the council sign the resolution.

“From my standpoint, I know that the Town of Winnsboro does not pay any taxes that go into the management and operations of the schools,” Gaddy said. “I think we are all aware that we’ve had problems with the management of our schools for a number of years. And my personal feeling is I will support the resolution also and the two House Bills.”

Last week, the Town of Ridgeway decided not to sign the same resolution, saying it would not be right to sign it without first knowing how the citizens of Ridgeway felt about the two bills.

With both pieces of legislation passing the House and Senate earlier this month, the next step for the two House Bills is approval by the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. Since South Carolina is still covered under the 1965 Voting Rights Act, any law that pertains to the election process must pass the Justice Department.

Also Tuesday night, the council held the final reading of an ordinance amending the current tree ordinance. The first part of the ordinance, section 3-1053: terms of office, will stagger the terms of appointed tree board members. Two members will serve for two years, while two other members will have a one year term. The board’s remaining three members will serve a three year term.

The second part of the ordinance being revised is section 3-1068: arborists’ license and bond. According to the amendment, it will be unlawful for a business to prune, treat or remove street or park trees within the town without first applying for and procuring a business license. Before the license is issued, the applicant must show proof of liability and property damage insurance. They must also provide proof of Worker’s Compensation Insurance.

In other business:

• Resident Dick Driscoll expressed concern about the council’s recent decision to extend lobbyist Kyle Michel’s contract. Driscoll said Michel’s salary should be commission-based only, instead of a paid salary. Michel, a lawyer from Columbia, was hired last year by the county and town to secure grant money from the federal government. His contract ended in February, but town council voted earlier this month to extend his contract for another nine months.

• The council voted to transfer its municipal elections to Fairfield County Voter Registration and Election Office. The county election office was already responsible for setting up the election machines for each municipal election and certifying the election results. The transfer will eliminate the Town of Winnsboro election committee.