A noble gesture by the Winnsboro Town Council fell by the wayside Tuesday night when council members reversed an earlier decision to put 10 percent of their salary back into the town’s general fund.

At the July 6 Town Council meeting, Council Member Marcia Bonds made a motion to pass a resolution to take 10 percent of the council members’ yearly salary to put into the general fund. The measure passed 4-1, with Council Member Danny Miller voting against.

Council later received legal advice regarding the issue.

“I regrettably withdraw my motion to take 10 percent of the council members’ yearly salary to put into the general fund,” Bonds said at Tuesday’s meeting. “I do encourage council members to donate 10 percent of their salaries back to the general fund. After getting a legal opinion, it was in the best interest to not go that route.”

“The Town’s budget is done by ordinance,” explained attorney John Fantry, who handles a portion of the Town’s legal work. “The budget could not be changed by resolution. There is case law showing it is improper for a governing body to pass a resolution to take less than the compensation set by law. It can be done voluntarily, but not by resolution.”

Town of Winnsboro Council Members also voted unanimously Tuesday night to authorize Workers’ Compensation coverage for prisoners performing work for the Town.

Section 42-1-500 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina authorizes municipalities to provide Workers’ Compensation insurance as an exclusive remedy with respect to injuries arising during the course of employment.

“The County already does this,” explained Mayor Roger Gaddy. “They will be insured this way, rather than under the general liability.”

The council then voted to reclassify the Mt. Zion property from R-1 residential to PDD-C Planned Development District on second reading.

Town Manager Don Wood announced that the Public Safety Department is planning a community “Meet and Greet” in conjunction with the National Night Out program. This will be an opportunity for the community to come out and talk with local law enforcement officers and firefighters and ask any questions they might have. Hot dogs, chips and drinks will be served, and there will be drawings for give-a-ways.

The event will take place at the Old Armory on Tuesday, August 3, from 7 to 9 p.m.