Chapin mayor threatens lawsuit against town council, says members are ‘breaking state law’
Chapin mayor threatens lawsuit against town council, says members are ‘breaking state law’ NOTE: The above video is a livestream of WIS featuring current newscasts, Soda City Living and Gray Media’s Local News Live. CHAPIN, S.C. (WIS) — Chapin’s mayor and town council once again clashed over who has direct authority in making decisions for the town. The council called a special meeting on Aug. 6, voting to curtail Mayor Bill Mitchell’s sole authority over creating town offices as well as hiring a town attorney. While previously referring to “the mayor and council,” the ordinances now state that “the council” has sole authority for such actions. Mitchell later went on to threaten legal action against the council over those votes. The move came less than a month after council publicly gave Mitchell a vote of no confidence in a meeting that also became heated. Both the mayor and council apologized for their behavior after the fact. Did the mayor hire a town attorney? During the Aug. 6 meeting, however, council members claimed they had contacted at least 15 local attorneys, all of whom reportedly refused to work for or with the town due to Mitchell’s reputation. Mitchell fired back, saying he had signed an engagement letter with Georgia-based attorney Bubba Samuels for a rate of $200 per hour. Samuels’ firm does not have an office or location in South Carolina, but Samuels himself is licensed to practice law in the Palmetto State. WIS has reached out to Samuels’ law firm for comment and clarification. Councilman Warren Burritt, citing state law, claimed Mitchell actually had no authority to sign such an agreement and that the town may not be liable for paying any attorney hired under those circumstances. “I would stomp on that ice,” Mitchell responded. “I sign contracts and commit the town’s money continually within the budget. That’s my job. And that’s what I do.” Question of authority Mitchell then continued to address the town’s form of government and insisted he was the one solely responsible for making decisions in the town’s best interest. Chapin operates under a mayor-council, or “strong mayor,” form of government as outlined in state law. “You cannot ordinance yourself into a council form of governing,” Mitchell told council members. Other council members, including Councilwoman Ainslee Bost, continued taking issue with Mitchell seemingly making decisions without their knowledge. “We have been excluded from all the hirings of every attorney that you have hired,” she said. “We have been told after the fact and introduced after the fact. We should be making a collective decision about who is representing the town of Chapin. That is what we want.” Mitchell later became frustrated over questions about what he does and does not have sole authority to do. “See, I hear the growling and moaning,” he said. “You hate the form of government the town has picked, and there lies the problem. It’s not your choice. You are obligated to do what they say. And if it needs to be changed, they have the authority to change it. They could be voting on it in November if they want to. And I have a responsibility and the right to engage with these attorneys. And I have since I’ve been here. And I have paid them since I’ve been here.” Mitchell also threatened to file a lawsuit against town council over the ordinances that passed, even as Bost pointed out that the ordinances passed did not remove any responsibilities or powers of the mayoral office as outlined in South Carolina law. “I’m going to take the position, you are breaking state law that says the mayor is to oversee the day-to-day operations, including working with that town attorney,” Mitchell said. “I will take declaratory judgment action, and I’m saying that now. And I’m not blinking. I think you’re breaking the law, and I will ask a judge to give his opinion.” A direct accusation Mitchell was also directly accused by Councilwoman Vicky Shealy of screaming at her over the phone when asked about the status of the town’s $200,000 settlement with former town administrator Nichole Burroughs, who Mitchell fired upon taking office in November 2025. “I called you the other morning and I started to ask you a question. And before I got it, even out of my mouth, you jumped on me and started screaming at me. To the point my husband came to see who I was talking to. And I hung up the phone with you,” Shealy said. Mitchell responded by acknowledging the call was “a loud conversation” but then claimed that Shealy was asking him with an ulterior motive. “Vicky, if you are asking that information to assist her [Burroughs] or someone who has threatened to file a lawsuit against this town...I have a problem with you gathering information to help someone who is acting against the town,” he said. It was revealed during the meeting that nearly $50,000 was still due as part of the settlement — but Mitchell contested that, saying it was due to an invoice not being provided by Burroughs’ attorney. Shealy said she was asking to ensure the town did not owe interest on its payments to Burroughs and said Mitchell didn’t let her finish her question because of his temper. Mitchell replied, saying that he and Shealy “have a history” and claimed she doesn’t “act in the town’s best interest.” Further pushback Mitchell took to the town’s Facebook page on Sunday morning, calling out what he deemed “selective reporting” by media outlets and claims of a lack of transparency. “Under my administration, our communication is clear: the citizens of Chapin come first. I do not grant media interviews on town matters until our residents have been informed directly. Traditional news outlets must take a back seat to the people I was elected to serve,” he wrote. Chapin’s next scheduled town council meeting will be held on Aug. 18. Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter, and download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here. Copyright 2026 WIS. All rights reserved.
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