The governing body of each county and incorporated municipality which elects to establish an employee grievance procedure pursuant to this article shall appoint a committee composed of not less than three nor more than nine members to serve for terms of three years, except that the members appointed initially shall be appointed so that terms will be staggered and one third of the terms shall expire each year. Any interim appointment to fill a vacancy for any cause prior to the completion of his term shall be for the unexpired term. Any member may be reappointed for succeeding terms at the discretion of the appointing authority. All members of the grievance committee shall be selected on a broadly representative basis from among the career service or appointed personnel of the several county or municipal agencies, with the provision that, whenever a grievance comes before the committee initiated by or involving an employee of an agency of which a committee member also is an employee, such member shall be disqualified from participating in the hearing.

The committee shall select its own chairman from among its members. The chairman shall serve as the presiding officer at all hearings which he attends but may designate some other member to serve as presiding officer in his absence.

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Terms Used In South Carolina Code 8-17-130

  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Presiding officer: A majority-party Senator who presides over the Senate and is charged with maintaining order and decorum, recognizing Members to speak, and interpreting the Senate's rules, practices and precedents.
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.

A quorum shall consist of at least two thirds of the committee members, and no hearings may be held without a quorum.

The presiding officer will have control of the proceedings. He shall take whatever action is necessary to insure an equitable, orderly and expeditious hearing. Parties shall abide by his decisions, except when a committee member objects to a decision to accept evidence, in which case the majority vote of the committee will govern.

The committee shall have the authority to call for files, records and papers pertinent to any investigation; to determine the order of the testimony and the appearance of witnesses; to call additional witnesses; and to secure the services of a recording secretary in its discretion.

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