Alexander Special Council Meeting saved by Zoom

Two agenda items, tabled during the Alexander City Council's regular December meeting, were dealt with at a special meeting this week. One was a resolution approving the proposed budget for 2024. The other was an ordinance establishing two "city attorney" positions and the method of hiring.

The special meeting was held Tuesday, January 16. Due to weather conditions Zoom was used to allow any council members attend the meeting who didn't want to attempt a trip to the Alexander Municipal Complex. Members of the public were also notified about the Zoom connection. Approximately 10 or more opted to watch the meeting on Zoom.

Council members who attended the meeting at city hall were Joe Pollard, Mitchell W. Smith, Gina R Thomas-Littlejohn, and Harold Timmerman. Attending by Zoom were Joy Gray and Angela Griffin. Tony Staton, and Juanita Wilson were absent.

The proposed budget was tabled at the December meeting at the request of Council Member Juanita Wilson because it lacked the financial detail that was in, not only the 2023 budget, but previous budgets going back several years. It appears the version approved at the special meeting is the same as presented in December.

The revenue and expense totals for the 2024 budget, by fund, are as follows.

General Fund

- Revenue $1,154,261.00

- Expense $   913,795.00

Street Dept. Fund

- Revenue $298,200.00

- Expense $295,830.00

Parks and Recreation Fund

- Revenue $256,050.00

- Expense $255,380.00

Police Dept. Fund

- Revenue $925,650.00

- Expense $915,523.00

Fire Dept. Fund

- Revenue $1,007,750.00

- Expense $1,006,892.43

Totals

- Revenue $3,641,911.00

- Expense $3,387,420.43

- Surplus     $254,490.57

An ordinance to establish two city attorney positions

The second item of business involved the second reading of an ordinance that establishes two "city attorney" positions. The second reading was to occur at the December regular meeting. The first full reading was done at the November meeting. There weren't enough council members present (two-thirds of the eight members, or six) to pass the ordinance in one meeting.

Council Member Juanita Wilson was absent from the November meeting. At the December meeting she asked that it be tabled until City Attorney Chris Madison can be present to answer questions she has about the ordinance. Madison was unable to attend the December meeting.

Her two main issues were the number of attorney positions to be established plus why the mayor is being given sole authority to appoint attorneys? In the past the council was always the final authority in appointing attorneys.

As for how many attorneys, the ordinance appears to establish two "city attorney" positions; one for court prosecutions and another for city civil business. But, the title includes the phrase "OR SEVERAL CITY ATTORNEYS." Wilson wanted to know if two positions are being established why does the title say "Several?"

Now that six council members were present, four at city hall and two on Zoom, the two-thirds "Yes" votes needed to pass the ordinance in one meeting were available. The two absent council members counted as "No" votes.

The first motion was to have the second reading of the ordinance done by title. The motion was made, seconded and all six members voted "Yes." City Attorney Chris Madison, who was also on Zoom, read the title; "AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF CITY ATTORNEY OR SEVERAL CITY ATTORNEYS TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF ALEXANDER, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."

At the instruction of Madison, a motion was then made to have the third reading of the ordinance done by title. The motion was made, seconded and all six council members voted "Yes."

There was no reading of the Emergency Clause.

Change February meeting date

The only other item on the agenda was to have a "Discussion" about the February meeting date. Normally, the Alexander City Council meets on the third Monday of the month. But, because the third Monday in January and February are Federal and State holidays the meeting is held on the fourth Monday; as stated in the council's "Organization of City Council 2023" and established by Ordinance No. O-2016-16-8-1. The ordinance is also cited in the "Organization" document.

The proposed change is to move the meeting from Monday, February 26 to Tuesday, February 20, the day following the third Monday of the month. The request is being made by City Attorney Chris Madison who is also the City Attorney for Bauxite, which has its regular meetings on the fourth Monday of the month.

Council Member Harold Timmerman noted that for the past seven years the council has been meeting on the fourth Monday in January and February to avoid the holidays. It actually goes further back than that. The practice was to vote on the change of meeting date in December for the January meeting and in January for the February meeting. In 2016 it was decided to establish the tradition in ordinance form.

What was to be an agenda item for discussion turned into a motion to move the February meeting from the 26th to the 20th. By a voice vote council members Joy Gray, Angela Griffin, Joe Pollard, Mitchell W. Smith, and Gina R Thomas-Littlejohn voted "Aye." Harold Timmerman voted "No." Tony Staton, and Juanita Wilson again were counted as "No" votes.

Next Meeting

The next regular meeting of the Alexander City Council is Monday, January 22 at 6:00 PM in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex. The public is invited to attend.