NEWBERRY — Newberry City Council has approved first reading of an ordinance that will authorize city police officers to perform off duty jobs during their off hours.

Mayor Foster Senn said this is something the city has been doing, but this is an update.

“The City Council has to authorize any fees that we charge, and this just puts us back in compliance,” said City Manger Matt DeWitt.

The way this works is if a school or an organization wants a police officer to provide security at an event, they contract with the City of Newberry so the City can handle the insurance. DeWitt added that if the police officer got injured, the City’s liability insurance or workman’s compensation would cover it.

The proposed ordinance is an update due to the rising cost of labor and insurance. The Police Department finds it necessary to adjust the fees slightly to cover these costs and allow officers to continue to perform these duties with an enhanced rules structure.

The ordinance states that off-duty employers will pay the city for the salary and all applicable fringe benefits and expenses related to the assigned off-duty police officer at the rate of $30 per hour for schools and $35 for all other events.

Payment has to be made prior to the event and is made in recognition that the police services are above and beyond what would ordinarily and customarily be provided by the city for the location.

Organizations will get billed and pay the city for the services and the city in turn will pay the officer.

“They get to take their police car, just like a normal police officer at an event,” Foster said.

First reading was approved after Councilman Zebbie Goudelock made a motion and Councilman Thomas Boyd seconded.

In other business, Council approved allowing alcohol in designated areas for two City of Newberry events. The first was for Irish Fling, which will be held March 17 from 5 p.m. until midnight in Downtown Newberry.

“The Parks, Recreation and Tourism (PRT) Department requests permission to allow alcoholic beverages, served in designated event areas using pre-approved plastic cups, to be taken from designated venues into the outdoor event area,” Foster said. “This would allow for event patrons to travel from one designated venue to another with an alcoholic beverage, by foot, if they are carrying the beverage in the pre-approved plastic event cups and are wearing an over 21 wrist band.”

The event area includes Main Street from Nance to Holman Street, Boyce Street from Nance to Lindsay Street, McKibben from Boyce to Main Street, Caldwell from Boyce to Main Street, College from Boyce to Main Street, Lindsay from Martin to Main Street from Lindsay to Graham Street.

Council authorized the request allowing alcohol in those designated areas for Irish Fling after Councilman Lemont Glasgow made a motion and Boyd seconded.

The next event was for Pork in the Park, scheduled for April 22. The Newberry County Chamber of Commerce requested permission to allow alcoholic beverages be served by designated event venue staff using pre-approved plastic cups from a beer cart parked on Boyce Street, between Memorial Park and the Newberry Opera House.

“This would allow for event patrons to travel the event space with an alcoholic beverage, by foot, if they are carrying the beverage in the pre-approved plastic event cups and are wearing an over 21 wristband provided by the event organizers,” Foster said.

The event area includes Main Street from Nance to Caldwell Streets, Boyce Street from Nance to Caldwell Streets, McKibben from Boyce and Main Streets and Caldwell from Boyce to Main Streets. The request to allow alcohol in these designated areas was approved after Councilman Edwin Wicker made a motion and Glasgow seconded.

Other business

• Ben Hughes was recognized for 10 years of service with the City’s Utility Department.

• Council gave DeWitt the Silver Palmetto Award, which they recently won for participation in events, hosting of events, educating members to creation of the all-inclusive play areas in the City Parks. The award will be displayed in City Hall.

• Council approved the re-appointment of Sean Pomeroy, Beth Hipp and Luevester Davis to the Architectural Review Board. Their two year terms will expire in 2019.

• Council approved the authorization of a mutual aid agreement with the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office and the Newberry Police Department.

• Council approved the authorization of a statewide mutual aid agreement, which allows the city to call in state resources for catastrophic events or in the case of a state emergency.

• Council approved a resolution adopting the Newberry County Hazard Mitigation Plan, which addresses the need for regulations to minimize the loss of property caused by natural events, such as flooding.

• Council approved the installation of a water tap for property located at 5848 SC 34-121.

Ben Hughes, left, was recognized for 10 years of service with the City’s Utility Department. At right is City Manager Matt DeWitt.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_DSC_0322.jpgBen Hughes, left, was recognized for 10 years of service with the City’s Utility Department. At right is City Manager Matt DeWitt. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

The City of Newberry recently received the Silver Palmetto Award, for 2016, and gave the award to Matt DeWitt, city manager, to display in City Hall.
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_DSC_0325.jpgThe City of Newberry recently received the Silver Palmetto Award, for 2016, and gave the award to Matt DeWitt, city manager, to display in City Hall. Andrew Wigger | The Newberry Observer

By Andrew Wigger

awigger@civitasmedia.com

Reach Andrew Wigger at 803-276-0625 ext. 1867 or on Twitter @ TheNBOnews.