This meeting should be over by now. Wonder what happened?

http://www.islandpacket.com/front/story ... 6020c.html

Beaufort County immigration debate continues today
From STAFF REPORTS
Published Monday, December 11, 2006


A much-debated proposal over whether Beaufort County should yank business licenses from companies found to employ illegal immigrants continues today.

A Beaufort County Council committee meets at 2 p.m. to discuss changes to the "lawful employment ordinance." The proposal is then scheduled for a second reading tonight, following a 6 p.m. public hearing on the topic.

The latest draft of the document removes a provision that encouraged businesses to enroll in the federal government's Web-based Basic Pilot Program to verify employment eligibility information. It also eliminates a provision that would have allowed anyone to file a complaint against businesses suspected of employing undocumented workers.

Instead, the county would randomly audit businesses and review documents such as I-9s to verify employment eligibility.

County administrator Gary Kubic is also expected to bring "empirical evidence" to today's meeting showing that the community's health, safety and welfare is being harmed by the employment of illegal immigrants.

The committee meeting is in the executive conference room at the county's administration building, 100 Ribaut Road, Beaufort. A full council meeting begins at 4 p.m. in the council's chambers.

The immigration issue won't come up until 6 p.m., when the public is invited to make comments on the latest proposal.