Birmingham City Council delays vote on new President Pro Tem

The Birmingham City Council — at its regular meeting for Tuesday, Sept. 11 — voted to wait three weeks before naming a new Council President Pro Tempore to replace former council member Jay Roberson.

Members will take up the matter again Oct. 9.

Roberson resigned his council seat effective Sept. 10 in order to move with his family to Alabaster.

The delay in filling the position came after Councilor Lashunda Scales expressed her concern that the people of District 7 should be properly represented.

She said that the residents of District 7 deserved a chance to have their own representative seated before a new President Pro Tem was chosen.

Hoyt, at another recent council meeting, told Mayor Randall Woodfin that he believed a special election should be held to fill Roberson’s seat, especially because his unfinished term as councilor would not run out until 2021.

Hoyt repeated his belief today that an election should be held and that the city has enough money to pay for it.

“Let’s rise above politics,” he said. “Let’s do it right. Let’s do it fair. Let these folk choose their leader."

Woodfin argued that the council should have a President Pro Tempore as soon as possible, and that filling that position would not violate the state Mayor-Council Act.

“There is nothing illegal or nothing that prohibits this body from filling an internal leadership position, totally different than picking a rep for the district,” Woodfin said.

However, Councilor John Hilliard countered that the council should not appoint a President Pro Tempore with an empty seat. “I just believe the people should have a voice,” he said.

Councilor Hunter Williams said that the legislature should revisit the Mayor-Council Act, which he said is outdated and offers the council “no clear plan of action” in this situation.

Hilliard agreed. “There’s too many loopholes in the Mayor-Council Act,” he said.

Williams made a motion to stop debate, but the motion failed on a 4-4 voice vote, and the discussion continued.

Councilor Darrell O’Quinn then made a motion to delay the hearing indefinitely, until a District 7 representative was either elected or appointed.

However, some other councilors shouted out suggestions that the time frame be shorter.

O’Quinn, after verbally amending his motion several times, settled on a three-week delay.

The motion passed 8-0.

Council President Valerie Abbott said that nominations for people to fill that vacant District 7 seat would close at 5 p.m. on Sept. 11.

Hoyt nominated Councilor William Parker as President Pro Tempore when the item was first called, but that proved to be the only nomination.

The unexpired term for the position of President Pro Tempore ends on the fourth Tuesday in October 2019, according to today’s Council agenda.

OTHER BUSINESS

After a lengthy public show-cause hearing, the council chose not to revoke the business licenses for Express Mart of AL LLC, which operates a Shell gas station and convenience market at 800 Third Ave. W. The station was the site of a fatal shooting in June. The Council chose to allow the station to continue to operate as long as the owner abides by a new security plan that he had his attorney present to members.

The council passed a ordinance amending the city code to change the name of the Traffic Engineering Department to the Department of Transportation. The item was recommended by Woodfin and O’Quinn, who is chairman of the Transportation Committee. The ordinance was being read for the first time, so members voted to give unanimous consent before voting on the item.

As part of its consent agenda, the council accepted a lump sum bid in the amount of $87,835 from Sherrod Construction Company in Vestavia Hills for renovations at historic Kelly Ingram Park downtown. It was the lowest and best bid submitted, according to the text of the resolution. The item was recommended by the Director of Planning, Engineering and Permits.

Members also authorized Mayor Woodfin to execute an agreement with Birmingham Urban League Inc. to provide cultural services and training in the sport of boxing to Birmingham at risk youth from ages 12 to 18 for an amount not to exceed $50,000.