Public demands bridge Conversation at city council turns to way across U.S. 76/378 BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015 75 CENTS SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 3 SECTIONS, 24 PAGES | VOL. 120, NO. 281
After Sumter City Council finished discussing the items on its agenda Tuesday, the conversation became one of public safety as several members of the audience expressed concern about people crossing U.S. 76/378. Conversation about providing safe travel for pedestrians in that area recently picked up after the death of 17-year-old Terrica Monae Butler, who was hit by a pickup
truck while crossing the roadway Sept. 5. The discussion started with Sumter County Detention Center Director Simon Major, who suggested that council reduce the speed limit on the highway to 35 mph to 45 mph instead of a speed limit of 60 mph with a minimum speed of 40 mph. Major said the city needs to make an immediate impact in that area in order to save lives. Many other commenters suggested that the city build a foot-
bridge over North and South Pike and the highway so that the people living in the area would have a safe passage to either side. Family and friends of Butler spoke about how they would not want other families to experience the same pain and loss that they have felt. Calvin Bennett said if the city plans to do another penny sales tax after the start of the 2016 projects, the construction of a footbridge
SEE CITY, PAGE A6
County council tours Central Carolina facility
Hungary seals border to Serbia Migrants left between checkpoints pitch tents. A5 FOOD
Still got leftovers from the grill? C8 Looking for heartier meals as the weather turns cooler? C2 DEATHS, B7 Joan Barwick Ada Mae B. Muldrow Morgan D. Brewer Jr.
KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Tim Hardee, center right, president of Central Carolina Technical College, leads members of the Sumter County Council on a tour of the school’s facility on Broad Street on Tuesday. Some of the facility is operational while other areas are still under construction.
Elaine Gregory Albertus Lewis
Food chain donates equipment
WEATHER, A8 ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY
Firehouse Subs gives rescue kits, defibrillators to first responders
It will be mostly sunny today and partly cloudy tonight. HIGH 83, LOW 65
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BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com Sumter County Fire Department and Richland County Sheriff’s Office celebrated receiving lifesaving equipment from donations collected through the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Tuesday afternoon at the Broad Street restaurant. The fire department received two rescue lift kits worth $12,871, and the sheriff’s office received three automated ex-
ternal defibrillators worth $5,278. Money for the equipment was raised through several donation opportunities for restaurant customers including placing donation canisters to drop change in and purchasing medallions for $1 or $5 to be hung on the restaurant walls during National Fire Safety Month as well as other fundraisers. All of the money raised in each restaurant is used to
KEITH GEDAMKE / THE SUMTER ITEM
Master Fireman Fredrick Rose, Lt Eddie Newman and Firefighter Heath Griffin inflate one of the new lift bags able to raise 10,250 pounds that the Sumter Fire Department received from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. The department was given two rescue kits, SEE KITS, PAGE A6 and each kit contains two lifts.
Trustee: Superintendent should have announced new CFO Besides apology, board member seeks information on policy for posting administrative positions BY KONSTANTIN VENGEROWSKY konstantin@theitem.com During Monday’s school board meeting, Sumter School District trustee Rev. Ralph W. Canty, Sr. questioned Superintendent Frank Baker on why the hiring of the new executive director of finance was not announced to the school board. Canty asked why the new administrator hired in mid-July was not listed on the personnel report in the August school board meetings. “When key positions are appointed, do you sense you have an obligation to let people know about these key appointments?” Canty asked Baker. Baker said that he took full responsibility for not including the new director of finance name on the personnel report, and that it was an oversight on his part.
‘You have a chief financial officer; an announcement is made through the local newspaper to the entire community, and your board doesn’t even know anything about it.’ THE REV. RALPH W. CANTY SR. He said that Executive Director of Finance Nancy McMillan was hired July 13, after two weeks of the school district being closed, and there was no board meeting in July.
Canty asked why Baker did not send an email to the board, letting members know about the new finance director. “All positions are important,” said Baker. “I don’t send an email when we hire other personnel, such as teachers.” Canty said that an administrative position is “clearly not seen in the same light” as other positions. “You have a new chief financial officer; an announcement is made through the local newspaper to the entire community; and your board does not even know anything about it,” Canty said. Baker said there was no intentional reason for him not including the new administrator hired in the personnel report. “I made a mistake; I did not include it; it was an omission on my part, and
I apologize for that,” he said. Canty also asked Baker what the district’s policy was on posting administrative positions. Baker explained that those positions are posted online and that the application process is electronic. Baker said the only positions that may not be posted are new principal positions, because in those positions, administrators may be promoted internally, from assistant principals positions, for example. Canty then asked what the policy was for compensation for new positions filled, whether it was based on the position itself or training and experience. “It can go both ways,” Baker said. “Certain positions have a salary, however, and it’s not going to depend upon
SEE SCHOOL, PAGE A6