Shouting, yelling, and talking out of turn made for a lively town council meeting Tuesday night in Surfside Beach, all over the troubled pier restaurant.
In a 4-3 vote, the majority of council voted to cancel the contract with John and Sonia Sifonios, a couple who were planning on running a mom and pop diner in the space.
More than 50 people packed the town council chambers, many were standing in the back. Others cheered and clapped at times. Even during the times that weren't for public comment, many talked out of turn or would yell at the council.
Prior to the meeting, Mayor Allen Deaton said he would have the town's real estate broker and lawyer address town council, as well as the new pier restaurant's lessor and guarantor. In the past there has been confusion about the credit history of the lessor and guarantor, who actually puts up the money for the restaurant, Deaton said.
Halfway through the address, town council member Vicki Blair said she didn't know anything of the discussion. Shortly after, councilman Doug Samples, Ann Dodge, and Mark Johnson said the same thing. Blair motioned the council rescind the lease they had previously approved. The vote passed with Blair, Samples, Dodge, and Johnson for rescinding the lease. Town Councilmen Rod Smith and Bob Childs, along with Mayor Deaton voted against.
"I do think it was the right decision, and I think that we needed to step back and take a look. I think it is an optimal time to take ownership of the pier and develop it into the focal point that we need it to be for Surfside," Blair said after the meeting.
Smith said afterwards the vote was a big mistake.
"The first offer was worth about a million dollars over ten years. This current lease is worth about $825,000 over ten years. The current offer is zero. We're sitting at zero," he said.
In April, town council chose John and Sonia Sifonios as the new operators of the pier restaurant.
The Sifonios are the owners and operators of Gourmet Cup Coffee, LLC out of Rutherford, N.J. Gourmet Cup serves Italian and continental cuisine.
The pier restaurant has been vacant since December, when town council didn't award a new contract to Nibil's Restaurant. Because the town owns the pier, it's required by law to put the restaurant up for bid.
