§ 2-295. Membership.

(a)

The advisory committee shall consist of seven members to be appointed by the council, consisting of four from the hospitality industry with two of those from the lodging industry, where applicable. These individuals must work and/or reside in the town or the county receiving the revenue. One member must represent the cultural arts within the town, with the remaining two members can be at-large with preference given in the following order: Town resident, town business owner, town property owner or finally a member of Richland/Lexington School District 5. No member of the advisory committee may hold an elected public office within the town.

(b)

The terms of office shall be for three years and the terms of the initial members shall be staggered. Any vacancy in the membership of the advisory committee shall be filled for the unexpired term by the council. All members of the advisory committee shall serve without compensation, but be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in connection with their official duties from budgeted funds pursuant to reimbursement policies and procedures for employees of the town. Members of the advisory committee may be removed at any time by the town council for cause.

(c)

The advisory committee shall organize itself electing one of its members as chairperson and one as vice-chair whose terms must be for one year. It shall appoint a secretary who may be an officer or an employee of the governing authority or of the advisory committee. The advisory committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson or a minimum of one time annually. The committee will submit written recommendations to the town council at least once annually regarding the expenditure of state accommodations tax proceeds. The town council may accept, reject or modify these recommendations. Local Accommodations Tax proceeds must be used for tourism-related projects and programs as defined in S.C. Code 1976, § 6-1-530.

(Ord. No. 16-19, 9-20-2016)