Laurens City Council Debates CPW Vacancy Appointment

During a special called meeting at noon on Wednesday, Mayor Nathan Senn addressed Laurens City Council with remarks clarifying the legal process surrounding the vacancy on the Laurens Commission of Public Works (CPW).

“I want to place just a few facts and principles into the record,” Senn said. “Under South Carolina Law Title 5, Chapter 31, the authority to fill a vacancy on the Commission of Public Works rests solely with the Laurens City Council. This has been the law for more than a century, in fact, it was law decades before the Commission of Public Works was created in 1922. The legislature made that choice to ensure accountability to the people of the city, and to prevent a situation where management of a utility could hand select its own governing board. These checks and balances must be respected.”

The vacancy arose following the resignation of Parker Moore, who had served more than two decades on the commission. Although Moore’s resignation was effective July 15, his official letter was not received by the city until August 13, after Mayor Senn requested it.

Notice of Moore’s resignation, however, had already been provided to CPW General Manager John Young in April. Young said he contacted Mayor Senn at that time to begin the process, which adds to his frustration that the matter has taken so long to resolve. That resignation was also reported in the July 16, 2025 edition of the Laurens County Advertiser, making the slow walk to this point all the more concerning. Young also pointed out that in previous vacancies, the mayor had never requested or required a copy of the resignation letter—another indication, he said, of how differently this process is being handled.

“No formal vote or resolution of the CPW has ever been taken to nominate or recommend a candidate,” Senn stated. “It may not have been appropriate for them to even do so, because statutorily that authority belongs here with the Laurens City Council.”

He stressed the importance of an open, impartial process: “This statement is not made for or against either candidate. Both deserve a fair and impartial consideration on their qualifications, their independence, and their commitment to the public interest. Our responsibility today is to uphold the law, to protect the integrity of the process, and to ensure that the person selected will serve the City of Laurens with transparency and accountability.”

Young countered that the commission has consistently upheld those same principles. “Our process has always been transparent, accountable, and within the law,” Young said. “We have always brought forward highly qualified candidates and worked in cooperation with council and in the best interest of the City of Laurens.”

Following his statement, Mayor Senn formally recused himself from the matter, citing his personal friendship with one of the candidates. With Mayor Pro Temp Johnny Bolt absent, Laurens City Council voted for Councilman Lowry to preside, and members unanimously entered into executive session to conduct interviews.

General Manager John Young, speaking further on behalf of the commission, told The Buzz that in his 25 years with CPW, “it has never been done this way. The process has always been cooperative and also within the rules. While this change is technically ‘according to the law,’ it is clearly being done to direct council to a specific result. The commissioners are very disappointed in the way this whole process has been mishandled by the mayor and Laurens City Council.”

Young went on to explain that the process used in the past was also compliant with the law and provided needed cooperation. “I talked to my predecessor and every time there has been a vacancy in the past, we’ve met with the mayor and city council in an executive session. We’ve shared someone we’d like to appoint to the position; shared their qualities and experience etc. The council has voted to appoint that person and it’s always worked out great.”

That was the approach earlier this year, when Young introduced Scott Todd as the CPW’s nomination for the position. Despite that, Senn continued interviewing the other three or four candidates who had expressed interest.

Young confirmed that Laurens City Council interviewed two candidates during executive session: Scott Todd and Ira Bedenbaugh.

When Laurens City Council returned to open session, nominations were made. Councilwomen Marian Miller and Alicia Sullivan nominated Scott Todd, but the motion failed after Councilwoman Cassandra Campbell, and councilmen Calvin Whittmire and Martin Lowry voted against it. With no other nominations brought forward, the meeting was adjourned.