Beaufort leaders delay contentious decision over preservation group’s role on city board
Beaufort leaders delayed a controversial decision on whether to remove a preservation group from the city’s historic review board during a tense vote Tuesday that led a council member to walk out.
The city is considering whether Historic Beaufort Foundation will lose the seat it has held for nearly 50 years on the Historic District Review Board.
City officials have questioned whether it’s proper for a nonprofit advocacy organization to have a vote on a public regulatory body. Historic Beaufort supporters say theirs is a necessary and expert voice in ensuring building standards are upheld to protect the city’s National Historic Landmark District.
The City Council approved removing the seat in an initial 3-2 vote in November. During hours of public comments in that meeting, numerous people spoke of the need to keep the designated seat, and council members said they had received dozens more emails and phone calls.
Council members voted by the same margin to table a decision on the issue during a testy meeting Tuesday, during which Councilman Stephen Murray walked out, accusing Mayor Billy Keyserling of violating meeting procedures and shutting down public debate.
After Keyserling and council members Mike McFee and Nan Sutton voted to table the issue, the mayor announced he would instead appoint a panel of city officials and representatives of Historic Beaufort Foundation to consider the issue for two months and produce a report. The mayor said the panel would consider training standards for review board members and the development of a long-range preservation plan, in addition to looking at whether the organization should keep its seat on the board.
“I think I have the prerogative to do that as the mayor, and I’m going to do that,” Keyserling said.
Keyserling then invited Historic Beaufort’s director and board chairman to speak.
Murray objected to Keyserling continuing the discussion after the vote was tabled.
Murray, who with Councilman Phil Cromer voted against postponing the vote, said tabling the decision ended council’s chance to debate and silenced the large crowd in council chambers.
“It’s a sad day for transparency in the city of Beaufort,” Murray said.
“It’s a sad day for this community that you are quieting these people who came here tonight to speak,” former Historic Beaufort director Maxine Lutz followed, in comments directed to council members who voted to table the discussion.
Former council member Mike Sutton, Nan Sutton’s husband, called from the back of the room for Keyserling to establish order and “take over your chamber.”
When Keyserling proceeded with the next item on the agenda, Murray packed up and walked out.
“I’m disappointed in y’all,” Murray said.
“I’m disappointed in you, Stephen,” Nan Sutton said as he walked past.
Keyserling at one point said he would allow anyone who wanted to speak the chance at the end of the meeting. But most of the Historic Beaufort Foundation supporters filed out of the second-floor chambers after the vote was put off.
Later in the meeting, Keyserling apologized for Murray’s behavior and said the situation was a first in his 11 years as mayor.
Murray, who returned home and watched the end of the meeting on the city’s live feed, said he objected to Keyserling apologizing on his behalf. He said he respects that the mayor typically allows everyone a chance to speak and without time limits.
“There was no need to apologize for me,” Murray told a reporter after the meeting. “If any apology needs to be given, it’s for (Keyserling) clearly violating Robert’s Rules of Order and stifling debate of the public and council.”
