Scottsboro, Alabama July 23, 2018 Scottsboro City Council Meeting Regular Session - Greg Mashburn Selected to Fill City Council Place 1 Vacancy

Greg Mashburn, center of photo in blue shirt, selected to the 2 year term for Scottsboro City Council, Place 1, which was vacated when Jessica Butler resigned on June 4, 2018. Council Member Patrick Stewart to the left of Mr. Mashburn; local attorney Will Parks, on right, offers his congratulations. (photo by G. Morgan)

Facebook Video: https://www.facebook.com/garry.l.morgan.5/videos/10216640027576839/

AGENDA

VIDEO

THE LIST - And Continuing Sagas of the Political 'boro - JULY 6, 2018

Effective June 4, 2018 Mrs. Jessica Butler resigned from Place 1 on the Scottsboro City Council. The City of Scottsboro asked for candidates to submit their names for the vacant position, 13 candidates submitted their names to be selected by the members of the Scottsboro City Council on Monday July 9, 2018 at 6:00 PM in the Scottsboro City Council Chambers, Gail Duffy Auditorium. 

"The List and Continuing Saga . . ."  contains 3 articles at this link - The List  - explaining political action currently and historically or at this link - relating to the Alabama Private Investigators Board and previous problems within the City of Scottsboro. 

https://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/Alabama%20Private%20Investigators%20Board

Two members of the City Council have stated they will support Mrs Linda Bray, 1 on the list. I submitted my concerns to the entire Scottsboro City Council Regarding Mrs. Bray via email and Messenger. On Thursday evening 5 July, 2018 I interviewed Mrs Bray and we had a discussion regarding my concerns. I have updated 2 blog articles regarding this interview going back in time to November 3, 2015 and March 29, 2016. These articles were in regards to Mrs. Brays activities as a Private Investigator and Personnel Board member. I requested, and she provided me with documents which were utilized to update the 2015 and 2016 articles. The interview directly relates to the described incidents and my concerns as a Citizen of Scottsboro, Alabama. The context of concern and photos of the Documents may be found at The List in subsequent articles after this one.

Phone interview of Mrs. Bray on July 5, 2018, due to her possible selection as an appointed City Council Member.  Mr. Smith and Mr. Patrick Stewart have indicated they will support Mrs. Bray as a candidate for the City Council position to be selected on July 9, 2018. 

I expressed concern regarding an unlicensed Private Investigator performing investigations for the city.  Mrs Bray stated, paraphrased, that she was informed by the state investigators board that because she was a contracted representative of the City of Scottsboro and that she did not have to have an Investigator's License per the Laws of The State of Alabama. Mrs. Bray was asked if there was a written contract, she stated there was no contract in writing, everything was verbal. She did indicate, and was confirmed, that she had a City Business Licence and further claimed no one knew of the requirement for a state investigators license. My note: This appears to conflict with the laws of the state regarding exceptions to license requirements of an investigator which may be found at: Code of Alabama Link: https://law.justia.com/codes/alabama/2015/title-34/chapter-25b/ 

Mrs. Bray additionally stated that she was previously contracted by Scottsboro to perform investigations on Workers Comp Cases.  Interviews revealed that she was contracted  per order of the Mayor of Scottsboro at the time thru Human Resources. Normally, Workers Comp Insurance case investigations are  conducted by the insurance carrier. *(The following comment stood out to me regarding Mrs. Brays character.)* Mrs. Bray further indicated (paraphrased) that she did not wish to cause a problem for anyone, but if this issue came forward again the H.R. Directors involvement would be brought forward, meaning her contracted hiring to investigate a Workers Comp case. Mrs. Bray indicated she thought the H.R. Director's job performance was excellent.

Mrs. Bray indicated she had received a training course of study in Private Investigations.

Mrs. Bray indicated she is a member of the Personnel Board of the City of Scottsboro. 

Documents and photos regarding this story may be found in the accompanying articles:    https://arklite.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20List

Scottsboro, Alabama June 18, 2018 Scottsboro City Council Work Session - More Cost Overruns on Square Renovation and Council Candidate Names for Vacated Seat Held by Jessica Butler, Place 1

Scottsboro Council Member Keith Smith questions the ongoing practice of cost overruns regarding city construction projects. Smith comments about the City Streetscape project, "Look across the street at the sidewalk slope. . .other cities around are not having this contract problem." Meeting the American's for Disability Act requirements has been a problem, another result of failed planning. It appears there is an approximate $26,000 overrun thus far, for the Streetscape Project.

Mr. Smith is right, the City Taxpayers have paid thousands upon thousands in construction project cost overruns to various contractors. Abuse and waste was evident in the Ball Field construction project. A failure to plan and properly investigate architectural and street infrastructure problems is resulting in cost overruns in the downtown Streetscape Project. 

Many citizens have questioned the necessity of the Streetscape project's scope and state it is wasteful and not needed. There have been many parking spaces lost to the Streetscape Project. A delegation of downtown merchants briefly met with the City Council tonight discussing traffic patterns and parking around the square affecting merchant business.

The historical significance of the drive around portion of the Courthouse Square was lost in the project, instead two expensive bricked in area were placed at the south side of the square changing traffic patterns and creating hazards. It was stated there were many meetings about the project explaining the scope. However, many of the meetings were not announced properly and involved only select citizens who agreed with the plans. (photo by G. Morgan)

Videos with Streetscape plans from previous city council meeting in April 2014, including the council vote for approval of the $1.4 million project. https://arklite.blogspot.com/2014/04/scottsboro-city-council-april-14-2014.html

Video Segment, the blocked South Side of the Courthouse was not in the original approved plan as shown.

 

AGENDA

Place 1 City Council Candidate Names - The decision for the appointment is scheduled for the July 9, 2018 City Council Meeting.

VIDEO

Scottsboro City Council Work Session, June 4, 2018

Scottsboro City Hall, photo by G. Morgan.

AGENDA

Agenda Item 1 - Interested persons residing within the City Limits of Scottsboro, Alabama for Jessica Butler's position on the Scottsboro City Council should submit in writing their interest in the position to the City Clerk by 4:30 PM on  June 18, 2018 

VIDEO

Scottsboro, Alabama UPDATE: MAY 26, 2018 Council Member Jessica Butler Resigns Effective June 4, 2018 - May 21, 2018 Scottsboro City Council, Dual Session, Dock Street Issue and Intersection of U.S. Hwy 72 and County Park Rd.

Scottsboro City Hall, photo by G. Morgan

Council Member Jessica Butler receives certificate of election from Council President Patrick Stewart September 12, 2016.  (Photo by G.Morgan)

Council Member Jessica Butler resigns from Place 1 on the Scottsboro City Council; Ms. Butler's resignation is effective June 4, 2018. Jackson County Sentinel's article.  

http://jcsentinel.com/news/article_1f79c1e2-605a-11e8-93a6-e7b14db51283.html

On March 14, 2018 Ms. Butler was on the agenda of the Pike County Georgia Board of Commissioners regarding her introduction as the Chief Executive Officer of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce. Info and photograph available from the meeting minutes at the link listed:   http://www.pikecountytimes.com/secondary/BOC3.14.18.html#.WwmRD-4vzIV 

State law requires council members to live within the city limits of the entity in which they serve.   http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/alison/codeofalabama/1975/11-43-1.htm

LETTER OF RESIGNATION

May 25th, 2018

Scottsboro City Hall
316 S Broad Street 
Scottsboro, AL 35768

Dear Mayor Shelton, Council President Wallingsford and Members of the City Council,

It is with great difficulty and a heavy heart that I make this decision. 
Due to life changes and recent job changes I will be spending more time out of town. I feel it is fair to the community at this time that I resign from my place 1 position effective June 4th.
It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Scottsboro and to serve with this council. I appreciate the respect and character you have shown me as a fellow member. I love this community and consider it home and family. I sincerely thank the community for allowing me the opportunity to serve.

Sincerely,

Jessica Butler

AGENDAS

Dock Street, Regular Session, Agenda Item 3 - 6 citizens were in attendance from the River Ridge Subdivision area. 

Dock St. to be closed temporarily. Improvements to the area seriously needed, this is serious money making property, potential for private restaurant, hotel and dock area on the river is fantastic. Remember the B.B. Comer Bridge Project, this project is much simpler, much less expensive with more potential for growth and expansion of tourism.

DOCK STREET VIDEO

Mr. Smith discusses city debt and upcoming projects, debt picture as reported by Mr. Smith is $17,821,177. This is not counting the debt carried by the City of Scottsboro for Goose Pond Colony and the school system debt, both separate corporate entities of the city. The U.S. Hwy 72, John T. Reid Parkway, so called improvement project, was met with opposition from Mr. Smith and Mr. Stewart, just call it "Stop Light City."

STOP LIGHT CITY VIDEO

Jackson County Sentinel article by Will Whaley about project. http://m.thedailysentinel.com/news/article_fc3fb22e-5ad0-11e8-b696-ab74c680e20e.html?mode=jqm

VIDEO OF  COUNCIL MEETINGS

Scottsboro City Council Meeting, Regular Session, Election Certificate Presentation to Jessica Butler - City Council Place 1 September 12, 2016

Scottsboro City Hall (photo by G. Morgan)

City Council Agenda

(Click on image for an expanded view.)

Video City Council Meeting