INCORPORATION
In 1975 the Town of Gaston was Incorporated into
Lexington County.
The Gaston Town Council adopted the
Mayor-Council form of government by ordinance on
Dec. 2, 1975. The Mayor serves as Chief
Executive Officer.
ELECTIONS
Mayor and Council serve four-year terms,
staggered terms. Elections are held on the 21st
of January of each even numbered year or on the
3rd Tuesday in January of each odd numbered
year, and each newly elected official shall take
office at the first regular Council meeting in
February after the election.
TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS
Regular scheduled meetings of the Town Council
are at the Gaston Town Hall, 131 Carlisle
Street, on the first Tuesday of every month at 7
p.m. Meetings are open to the public. When the
first Tuesday falls on a holiday, the meeting
will be held on the following Tuesday. Notices
of meetings and agendas are posted at the Town
Hall at least 24 hours prior to the meetings.
COUNTY COUNCIL
Gaston is one of 14 municipalities in Lexington
County. The governing body of the county is the
Lexington County Council. Members are Chairman
Bruce E. Rucker, of Swansea; George H. "Smokey"
Davis, of Lexington; William C. "Billy" Derrick
of Leesville; Johnny W. Jeffcoat, of Columbia;
John Carrigg, of Columbia; Debra B. "Debbie"
Summers, of West Columbia; Bobby C. Keisler, of
Lexington; Joseph W. "Joe" Owens, of West
Columbia, and M. Todd Cullum, of Cayce.
The Lexington County Council meets on the second
and fourth Tuesday of each month in the Council
Chambers at 4:30 p.m. Committee meetings are
held in the afternoon and public hearings are at
6 p.m..
In addition to functioning as the board of
directors of Lexington County, County Council
members also appoint the membership of eight
special boards and have an influence on several
other regional commissions. Boards for which
council members are responsible include the
Assessment Appeals Board, the Building Codes
Board of Adjustment; the Children's Shelter
Board; the Library Board; the Museum Commission;
the Planning Commission; the Zoning Board of
Adjustment; the Lexington County Health Services
District Board, the Accommodations Tax Advisory
Board and the Athletic Commission.
Also, Council appoints 10 of the 37 members of
the Central Midlands Regional Planning Council;
nine of the members of the Transportation Plan
Advisory Commission; two of the 18 members of
the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce's
Economic Development Council; three members of
the Columbia Metropolitan Airport's 27-member
Noise Abatement Committee; two members of the
seven-member Riverbanks Zoo Commission; and six
of the 12 members of the Lexington/Richland
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council. Members of the
various boards and commissions are chosen from
the community.
