The 2020 Annual Meeting is no longer scheduled as an in-person meeting and instead will be a virtual meeting available online. The Municipal Association had planned the meeting to take place in Charleston July 16 – 18. However, the Centers for Disease Control COVID-19 guidance and recently released state hospitality industry standards for reopening confirmed that a meeting of this size could not be effectively planned and held for the Municipal Association's membership.
The Association is instead developing a virtual Annual Meeting, available online on Friday, July 17. Because the meeting will be virtual, registration is not necessary.
The virtual Annual Meeting will include a variety of video sessions — available on demand — bringing together South Carolina officials to discuss the ongoing ways that cities and towns can address the pandemic and help their residents and businesses recover from it. Here are some currently planned topics related to the pandemic and recovery, which are subject to change:
- Law enforcement procedures and COVID-19
- A discussion from the SC Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office on the state's economic outlook as a result of the pandemic
- A presentation from the SC Department of Administration on the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, and how cities and towns may use the funding dollars coming from it
- A panel discussion addressing other federal pandemic legislation
- A panel discussion, including the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, on the COVID-19 responses and the future outlook of the pandemic in South Carolina
- A SC Election Commission presentation on conducting elections with COVID-19
Some material will not be directly related to the emergency. The Municipal Association's advocacy team will cover both the business license standardization initiative as well as the status of H4431, the business license bill. So far in 2020, H4431 has progressed further through the State House than any other similar legislation. COVID-19 disrupted the legislative session in March and stopped the progress of most legislation at least until the General Assembly convenes for a planned September session.
Local leaders are facing a confluence of new challenges unseen in their lifetimes. A pandemic, a declining economy and communities demanding changes to combat racism will require honest, open leadership from local elected officials. In another session, join two mayors as they share their thoughts on how to lead in these challenging times.
Also, a slideshow will highlight the winners of the Municipal Association's 2020 Achievement Awards as well as the 2020 Main Street South Carolina Inspiration Awards.
Municipal Association Executive Director Todd Glover and Municipal Association President Cornelius Huff, mayor of Inman, will have a discussion about the pandemic and responses by cities and towns.
Given the continually evolving nature of the public health emergency, some Annual Meeting details may change. Final agenda information, as well as information on how to access the material, will be posted at online as it is available.