Birmingham City Council appoints Harvey Penick to zoning board

The Birmingham City Council had a relatively light agenda at its regular meeting Feb. 14.

Items taken up included the following:

--The council voted to appoint Birmingham attorney Henry Penick to the Zoning Board of Adjustment for a full term expiring Nov. 25, 2023. Penick previously served a partial term on the board, according to Councilor Patricia Abbott.

--Members failed to pass a resolution to pay up to $50,000 to Desmond Wilson of The 1987 Supply Co. to provide film, photography, graphic design and marketing services to the council. The purpose of those services would be to “highlight the Birmingham community,” according to the text of the resolution.

The resolution attracted only four yes votes, along with a no vote from Abbott and an abstention from Councilor William Parker, meaning that it did not win majority support on the nine-member council.

Austin said that the money is used to publicize events and activities in the various districts and to produce newspaper ads and web content for the council

Abbott complained that she had received questions about the expenditure from some constituents. “What are we doing?” she said. “Are we self-promoting in an election year?

CORRECTION: This post previously stated that the council approved a Healthy Food Incentive Program for the city. The vote was actually to delay the measure until Feb. 28