Nathan Prewett
LEEDS, Ala. — The first reading for an ordinance to repeal a policy regarding board appointments was held at a meeting of the Leeds City Council on Monday.
During the work session Mayor Eddie Moore explained that the current ordinance requires citizens to fill out applications to serve on boards and committees.
“We’re going to talk about repealing that because t’s antiquated and not necessary,” Moore remarked.
Moore said that exceptions can be made for when a new board is created but otherwise the repeal would have the mayor and council appoint citizens by their recommendations.
Dissent came from Councilor Sabrina Rose during the regular meeting when she expressed concern that it would limit participation of residents in the city.
“I believe that the citizens should be able to apply for a board,” she said. “I don’t believe that we should just be able to go around handpicking people. I believe we should get people that seriously want to participate in the process and that are going to follow through with their responsibilities instead of us just going around and just handpicking our best friend or our next door neighbor.”
Moore responded that other cities have taken similar actions in regard to their board appointments policies.
“The reality is that the council and the mayor approve them anyhow,” he said. “It’s not a secret when we’ve got an opening. It can be on our website. But the standard for a lot of cities is what we’re advocating in this ordinance.”
A brief debate followed where Rose alleged that the way the city deals with the matter has not been shared with the public and not posted on the city’s website.
Moore countered that information is shared with citizens, though Rose said that while information is often disseminated on social media there has not been proper advertising looking for citizens to serve on boards. Moore reiterated that committee and board members are ultimately chosen by the council anyway.
Rose advocated that interviews for potential appointments should be performed by the entire council.
“We need to have the opportunity to do that,” she said. “Because I’m sitting here and I know what’s going to happen. I know that there’s going to be a few that are going to pick who they want and then it’s going to be on the agenda. And then there’s going to be a few that had no idea about it.”
Moore stressed that openings will not be a secret and that council members “typically want people that think like them”. Rose disagreed and said that she has learned from people who have different views.
Later Rose made a motion to table the ordinance but it was not seconded. Kennedy’s motion to consider it a first reading was passed by a 5-1 vote, with Rose voting against.
A copy of the ordinance can be found at the city’s website on agendas and packets here.
In other business the council:
- Authorized the surplus of computer equipment and a vehicle and
- Declared properties on Lake Avenue, Whitmire Street, Johnny’s Cove, and Aspen Drive as public nuisances.
Leeds City Council meetings are held on the second and fourth Mondays of every month at City Hall on 1400 9th Street Northeast. Agenda packets can be seen online at the City of Leeds website.
Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@gmail.com.
