The regular meeting of the Board of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources was held at 10:00 a.m., December 8, 2011, in room 335 of the Rembert C. Dennis Building, Columbia, SC. Notice of the date, time and place of the meeting was posted and mailed to the news media. Chairman Caroline Rhodes presided at the meeting. Board members present included Cary Chastain, John Evans, Michael Hutchins, Randy Lowe, Norman Pulliam and Larry Yonce. Director John Frampton and staff members of the Department of Natural Resources were present at the meeting.

1. Call to Order
   Chairman Caroline Rhodes called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. and welcomed everyone to the meeting. 
2. Invocation
   Chaplain Ron Kenyon offered the invocation.
3. Pledge of Allegiance
   Vice Chairman John Evans led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. Introduction of Guests
   Don Winslow, Chief of Staff, introduced Chip Sharpe; Scott Whitaker, Executive Director, Coastal Conservation Association; McKenzie Hutaff, Megadock Billfishing Tournament; Jason Johnson, Executive Director, The Conservation Fund; Ann Timberlake, Executive Director, Conservation Voters of SC; Kim Kelly, Humane Society of United States; Ben Gregg, Executive Director, SC Wildlife Federation; Joey Holleman, The State; Douglas Ford, Research Director, Senate Fish, Game and Forestry Committee; Madison Walker, Governor’s Office;  Stephen Davis, former DNR Board member; Blan Holman, Southern Environmental Law Center, Sally Newman, Southern Environmental Law Center; and Sammy Fretwell, The State.
5. Constituent Comments
   Mr. Winslow noted that there were several requests for constituent comment.

   Chip Sharpe spoke to the Board about the legislative agenda. Mr. Sharpe asked the board to set legislation by November 15 of each year. Mr. Sharpe suggested the Department send a direct mailer to each license household, not license holder, at the cost of + $160,000 for 400,000 pieces.  Mr. Sharpe suggested using license revenue or County Game and Fish Funds to cover the expense.

   McKenzie Hutaff spoke to the Board about a proposed change in the Governor’s Cup Billfishing Tournament contract/agreement and requested that the change for the weather restriction be stricken.

   Ben Gregg gave the Board a brief history of the SC Wildlife Federation and its relationship with the Department.  Mr. Gregg also briefed the Board on two other entities, Enrich SC and Camo Coalition.

   Ann Timberlake thanked Mr. Frampton for the leadership he gave to the agency for the past 8 ½ years and for his 37 years of service.

   Stephen Davis thanked Mr. Frampton for his years of dedicated service, specifically the past 8 ½ years as Director.  Mr. Davis stated that Mr. Frampton has never given up, has rebuilt the confidence among legislators and has been a champion for the agency and the state.

6. Approval of Minutes
   Chairman Rhodes asked if there were any amendments, additions, deletions or corrections to the October 5, 2011, meeting minutes. Mr. Evans made a motion that the Board approve the minutes of the October 5, 2011, meeting as presented. Mr. Hutchins seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

   Mr. Evans made a motion that the Board not accept the resignation letter of Director John Frampton based on the fact that it was written under false pretenses.  Mr. Pulliam seconded the motion. 

   After a lengthy discussion, Mr. Pulliam called for the question.  The Board voted unanimously not to accept the resignation of Director Frampton.

7. Executive Session
   Mr. Hutchins made a motion for the Board to hold an Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter.  Mr. Lowe seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

8. Open Session
   Mr. Pulliam made a motion that the Board return to regular session and noted that no actions were taken in Executive Session.  Mr. Chastain seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

   Mr. Evans made a motion that the Board accept Director Frampton’s retirement letter dated December 8, 2011, including the following terms:  date of retirement will be March 16, 2012, and Col. Alvin Taylor will serve as acting Director when Director Frampton is not in the office.  Mr. Chastain seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

   Mr. Chastain made a motion that the Board name Col. Alvin Taylor as Interim Director effective March 16, 2012, until such time as a permanent Director has been appointed.  Mr. Pulliam seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

9. Advisory Committee Reports
   
   1. Saltwater Recreational Fisheries
      Report was deferred until the next meeting.
   2. Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
      Report was deferred until the next meeting.
   3. Land, Water and Conservation
      Mr. Yonce made a motion that the Board approve the following Conservation District Commissioner appointments and reappointments:

      Appointments:  William B. Oswald, Allendale; Troy M. Diel, Berkeley; William S. Simpson, Charleston; Marion L. Rizer, Colleton; Ellis M. O’Tuel, Marlboro; Ronnie Bullard, Spartanburg

      Reappointment:  Hugh P. McClimon, Anderson

      Mr. Chastain seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.

   4. Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series
      Robert Boyles, Deputy Director for Marine Resources, reported that the Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series Advisory Committee met October 27. The Advisory Board welcomed new members Mark Daniels, Mark Rogers and James Zachrich.  The Advisory Board approved three motions. The first two motions pertain to changes to series tournament guidelines: 1) allowing the fishing rod to be passed to any angler once, 2) language changes to make clearer photography and videography  allowance for released billfish, and 3) allow for proposed federal regulations for dolphin. The Advisory Board also approved a motion to transfer $1,500 for the Governor’s Cup scholarship and $1,000 for the yearly pledge to Harry Hampton. Foster McKissick resigned completed his term as Chairman and Ed Holder was nominated and elected as Chairman. A motion was made to strike the weather rule in the contract but received no second so no action was taken.
   5. Migratory Waterfowl
      Report was deferred until the next meeting.
   6. Heritage Trust
      Report was deferred until the next meeting.
10. Items for Board Information
    Results of Sheepshead Public Meeting and Survey Summary
    Mel Bell informed the Board that as of January 2012 the South Carolina sheepshead fishery will be completely unmanaged and unregulated.  Mr. Bell reminded the Board that in September 2011 the Marine Advisory Committee recommended (based on staff recommendation)  a 10 fish/person daily bag limit and 12 inch minimum legal length as a preferred sheepshead management option. The Board instructed DNR to seek public/stakeholder feedback on the MAC recommendation.  Mr. Bell reported that public meetings and the sheepshead fishery survey were announced through press releases, news articles, the DNR website, emails to licensed anglers and recreational and commercial fishery organizations.  Four public meetings were held, attended by  only 26 participants.  Mr. Bell noted that the Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Advisory Committee recommends a 10 fish/person daily bag limit and 14 inch minimum legal length as the preferred management option. The results of the survey will be presented to the MAC again for their consideration.
    
11. Items for Board Action
    1. Savage Bay Heritage Preserve Management Plan
       Mr. Hutchins made a motion that the Board approve the Savage Bay Heritage Preserve Management Plan as presented.  Mr. Evans seconded the motion and the motion carried unanimously.
    2. EPMS Policy Update
       Action on this item was deferred until the next meeting.
    3. Reduction in Force (RIF) Policy Update
       Action on this item was deferred until the next meeting.
       
12. Director's Briefing
    Mr. Frampton reported that he met with Marcia Lindsay, Audit Manager of the Legislative Audit Committee, about the upcoming review of DNR forestry management practices.

    Mr. Frampton spoke briefly about the possible changes for endangered species and the potential impacts for the Department. Mr. Frampton suggested that Mr. Boyles and Emily Cope, Deputy Director for Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, brief the Board at a future date.

    Mr. Frampton distributed copies of the latest draft of Climate Change Impacts to Natural Resources in South Carolina.

13. Legislative Report
    Derrick Meggie, Director of Legislative Services, distributed a list of prefiled bills that may involve the Department and reviewed the status of Department proposed legislation.
14. Environmental Programs
    Bob Perry, Director of the Office of Environmental Programs, informed the Board that he will include a briefing document in the Board meeting package. Mr. Perry reviewed several issues that may be of interest to the Board.
15. Board Member Comments
    Mr. Yonce asked for a report on the coastal bear harvest. Mrs. Cope stated that as of 6:00 pm, December 7,  no bear have been harvested. 

    Mr. Hutchins asked about the upstate harvest. Mrs. Cope stated that it is the second highest harvest.

    Mr. Evans informed the group that there was a miscommunication among the Board earlier regarding Director Frampton’s retirement letter.

16. Time and Location of the Next Meetings
    The January Board meeting will be held Thursday, January 26, 2012, in Columbia.

    The February Board meeting will be held Friday, February 17, 2012, in Charleston.

    The March Board meeting will be held Friday, March 23, 2012, in Columbia.

    The April Board meeting will be held Thursday, April 19, 2012, location to be determined.

17. Adjournment
    There being no further business to be brought before the DNR Board at this time, the meeting was adjourned.

The SCDNR Board Minutes for December 8, 2011 (file size 1.65M), have been provided in the Adobe PDF file format. Adobe® Reader® is required to open the above files and is available as a free download from the Adobe® Web site.