Government of Greenville, South Carolina

Branches of Government

Legislative

The city of Greenville was originally incorporated on December 18, 1831, and was known at that time as the village of Greenville. In 1869, the village of Greenville altered and amended its Charter to become known as the city of Greenville. On February 14, 1907, the city of Greenville was rechartered.

On August 11, 1976, under the Home Rule Act of 1975, the city of Greenville adopted the Council-Manager form of government. Municipalities under the council-manager form of government have a mayor and four, six or eight council members. The mayor presides over meetings (by tradition), calls special meetings, designates a temporary judge, and acts and votes as a member of council. The mayor has no administrative powers and has no additional statutory authority beyond that of other council members. City Council is responsible for the hiring of the City Manager, City Attorney, and Municipal Court Judge.

The Greenville City Council consists of the mayor and six council members. The mayor and two council members are elected at-large, while the remaining four council members are elected from single-member districts. Together they constitute the legislative body of the City. Terms of council are staggered terms of four years with elections held on the odd years. Formal Meetings of City Council are held at 5:30 p.m. each second and fourth Mondays of the month in the City Hall Council Chambers, Tenth Floor, 206 S. Main Street.

City Council Members (November 2011 - November 2013)

• Mayor : Knox H. White
• Mayor Pro Tem, District 4 Representative: J. David Sudduth
• Vice Mayor Pro Tem, District 2 Representative: Lillian B. Flemming
• District 1 Representative: Amy Ryberg Doyle
• District 3 Representative: Jil M. Littlejohn
• At-Large Representative: Susan C. Reynolds
• At-Large Representative: Gaye G. Sprague

Administrative

City Manager

The City Manager serves as the chief executive and head of the administrative branch. He appoints, sets salaries and removes employees at will, including the city clerk. The manager also prepares and administers the annual budget, makes financial reports, advises council on departments and appointments, and designates a manager during temporary absence. The City Manager serves at the request of City Council.

• City Manager: John F. Castile

City Attorney's Office

The City Attorney's Office provides legal counsel to the Mayor, City Council, City Manager, operating departments, and boards and commissions; it provides litigation services in all state and federal courts; it prosecutes cases in Municipal Court and coordinates the jury trial docket to dispose of cases in a timely manner. The City Attorney serves at the request of City Council.

• City Attorney: Ronald W. McKinney

City Clerk's Office

The City Clerk serves as liaison between City Council and its constituents and is custodian of City Council’s legislative history and other official records of the City including the City Charter, City Code, City Seal, Minutes, Ordinances, Resolutions, Annexations, and Council District and Zoning maps. The City Clerk is appointed by the City Manager and works closely with the City Attorney, the Mayor and members of City Council. Functions of the City Clerk include, but are not limited to, Administrative and Legislative, Boards and Commissions, Archives and Records, and Elections.

• City Clerk: Camilla G. Pitman, MMC, Certified PLS

The structure of the city's Departments and Divisions :

• City Attorney's Office
• City Manager's Office
  • City Clerk's Office
  • Mayor's Office
• Economic and Community Development Department
  • Building and Zoning
  • Economic Development Division
  • Community Development Division
• Fire Department
  • Prevention
  • Services
  • Suppression
• Human Resource Department
  • Employee Health Center
• Municipal Court
• Office of Management and Budget
  • Administration Division
  • Accounting Division
  • Business Licenses
  • Internal Audit
  • Geographic Information System (GIS) Division
  • Management Information Systems (MIS) Division
  • Purchasing Division
• Parks and Recreation Department
  • Youth Programming Bureau
  • Beautification Bureau
  • Community Centers Bureau
  • Parks Maintenance Bureau
  • Pools Bureau
  • Special Events Bureau
  • Tree Maintenance Bureau
  • Zoo Bureau
• Police Department
  • Administrative Services
  • Investigations
  • Patrol Services
  • Community Services Bureau
  • Traffic Enforcement Bureau
  • Professional Standards
  • Support Services
  • Dispatch Bureau
• Public Information and Events
• Public Works
  • Building Services Division
  • Engineering Division
  • Stormwater Management Bureau
  • Fleet Services Division
  • Solid Waste Division
  • Streets and Sewers Division
  • Traffic Engineering Division
  • Parking Bureau

Judicial

Greenville Municipal Court serves as a part of the integrated judicial system for South Carolina and as the judicial system for the City of Greenville. This court handles traffic and criminal misdemeanor violations and City ordinance and environmental code violations. The Municipal Court Judge serves at the request of City Council.

• Municipal Court Judge: Matthew R. Hawley, Jr.

External links

• Official site for Greenville city government