Scottsboro, Alabama March 25, 2019 Scottsboro City Council Meeting, Work Session and Regular Session - Committee Appointment for Municipal Judge Selection and More Problems

Scottsboro City Hall, photo by G. Morgan

WORK SESSION AGENDA

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VIDEO for Items 1 and 2 on Work Session Agenda

VIDEO for Items 3 thru 8 on  Work Session Agenda

AGENDA REGULAR SESSION

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Item 1 on Agenda - Scottsboro City Council Reconsiders Previous Decision, Approves County Park Road and Highway 72 Safety Improvement Project. 

Item 2 on Agenda - Stacy Ledwell appointed as Solid Waste director

Item 3 on Agenda - Wayne Moore appointed as Street Department Director

Item 4 on Agenda - Approval of a $4.5 million dollar bond issue.

Item 5 on Agenda - Cloverdale Rd. Property sale to highest bidder, Bobby Womack for $16,500

Item 6 on Agenda - Parks Ave Bridge renovation/construction bid awarded to Lambert Construction as lowest bidder, $517,850.00

Item 7 on Agenda - On call Asphalt Paving bid awarded to Wiregrass Construction as lowest bidder.

Item 8 on Agenda - Budget Amendment for funds moved to Chamber of Commerce for $2300.00

MUNICIPAL JUDGE SELECTION

Agenda Item 4, Regular Session Cancelled, appointment of Municipal Judge - Council President Patrick Stewart appointed a Municipal Judge Selection Committee, the following elected and appointed officials are on the Committee per Council President's instructions: Mayor Shelton, Council Member Ashburn, Council Member Bailey, Human Resource Management Director Erin Green.  (19min 7sec in the below Regular Session Video)

Of note on this Committee selection is the Alabama Open Meetings Act, Code of Alabama 36-25A-1 (link: https://codes.findlaw.com/al/title-36-public-officers-and-employees/al-code-sect-36-25a-1.html ) and 36-25A-2 (link: https://codes.findlaw.com/al/title-36-public-officers-and-employees/al-code-sect-36-25a-2.html ); the Alabama Open Meetings Act is very specific as to committees and open meetings. 

The selection of the Municipal Court Judge is of great Public Interest, so is the City of Scottsboro's process of selection of this important position. Information has been received regarding attempted outside influences regarding the Municipal Judge Selection. 

There has also been a reply from the City Clerk of Scottsboro, via email, as to my request to be notified of the Municipal Judge Selection Committee meeting date, time and place: Quote - "There is no meeting. Patrick formed a committee consisting of 2 council members to setup interviews with the applicants to make a recommendation at the special called council meeting immediately following the work session on Monday April 1." 

My Reply to the City Clerk: "You might want to receive advice from Mr. Kennamer (city attorney) on this matter, "committee meetings" fall under the purview of the Open Meetings Act. If the City of Scottsboro, or official representatives, fail to follow the Alabama Open Meetings Act - specifically, Code of Alabama 36-25A-1, 36-25A-2 defines "Committees," may have adverse effects on any decision made outside of the legal requirements of the law.  This issue is easily resolved, follow the law."

Secrecy, a lack of disclosure/transparency, plain old bad decision making and alleged violations of law are the reasons the City of Scottsboro has had multiple issues, including a compromise of integrity, within the Municipal Court System of Scottsboro, Alabama.  

VIDEO for Regular Session

Facebook reports live video:   https://www.facebook.com/garry.l.morgan.5/videos/10218493522393051/