BAY MINETTE, Alabama — No, it was not the Fourth of July in the Bay Minette Council Chambers last Monday, but it could have been, as more than 35 people gathered to salute and recognize the efforts of veterans, local volunteers; police, firemen, …
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BAY MINETTE, Alabama — No, it was not the Fourth of July in the Bay Minette Council Chambers last Monday, but it could have been, as more than 35 people gathered to salute and recognize the efforts of veterans, local volunteers; police, firemen, emergency first responders, two newly-named Eagle Scouts, the 154th anniversary of Magnolia Baptist Church ... and a proclamation to highlight Child Abuse Month.
While the council’s work session, led by Mayor Robert Wills, touched on some much needed information – namely a public works report outlining the recommended disposal and auction of outdated, or no longer needed municipal equipment – further discussion focused on non-exempt employee discretionary time off provisions relative to the Fair Labor Act.
After considerable dialogue, it was agreed that council would introduce a motion to removecompensatory time-off as an available option and keep overtime pay provisions for non-exempt employees pursuant to the employee manual. The change would then be effective at the end of the next pay period and go into effect,Thursday, April 21.
Aside from those issues, the Bay Minette City Council approved the monthly consent agenda which included minutes from the April 4 meeting; approved funding of training for select firefighters and police officers; and the April 18 accounts payable amount of $105,611.51, all of which would pass unanimouslyin the regular council session.
In further discussion, the council previewed fee waiver requests from teachers for the use of park facilities that would be used to host a number of student-related end-of-year gatherings and fundraisers scheduled in late April through May, all of which would pass unanimously in final council motions and resolutions in the regular session.
The April Mayor’s Report included formal thank you letters from the North Baldwin Animal Shelter and Bay Minette Elementary School in appreciation of the council’s ongoing financial support of their mission and community efforts. Over the past year council members provided contingency funds for a number of school-related events to include a Special Olympics campaign; a recent donor gift bag fundraiser and the upcoming, “Battle of the Books” competition set for April 28.
That said, the Bay Minette City Council introduced a number of awards recognizing citizens which included Frazier Martin (VFW) and Johnny Boynton, who, on behalf of American Legion Post 3568, recognized newly-pinned Eagle Scouts, Hunter Smith and Andrew Howell; Kendrick Banks, Police Officer of the Year; Hunter Smith, Firefighter of the Year; Hunter Williams, EMT of the Year; Hunter Smith, Scout of the Year; and a handful of volunteers from the Ladies’ Auxiliary.
In closing moments, Trisha Boynton, a spokesman for CARE House – a child advocacy center, personally thanked the City of Bay Minette for their long support of their work in Child Abuse Prevention efforts – and received the official proclamation of Child Abuse Awareness Month for April 2016 to bring attention to the importance of preventing abuse through a variety of programs and projects offered through CARE House.
The council likewise honored the 154th Anniversary of Magnolia Baptist Church for its longevity, and recognized their efforts at serving Magnolia Flats through leadership, example, and the contribution of its members with certificates presented to Sam Watson and George Watson. Wills emphasized that citizens are the foundation of every community. “Our future is looking bright,” said one council member of award recipients. “They are the (real) heroes.”
In other business the council:
