DAPHNE, Ala.—The City Council at its last regular meeting elected Cathy Barnette to be the new council president.

Barnette’s tenure as president begins Nov. 1 and runs for approximately one year.

She won by a unanimous vote after a motion by councilman Derek Boulware.

“I thank my colleagues for giving me the dubious honor of council president,” Barnette said at the end of the meeting. “And I want to thank you, Mr. Palumbo, for this past year.”

Councilman August Palumbo served as council president for his last meeting on Monday, ending his one-year reign.

“Now I can express my opinions freely without having to think about running the meeting,” he said jokingly.

Boulware was elected president pro-tem, who runs the meeting when the president is not present. He won by a 5-1 vote. Only councilman Bailey Yelding opposed. He motioned to put councilman Ron Scott for the position, but the motion was rejected by a 4-3 vote. Yelding, Barnette and Scott voted yes, while Palumbo, Boulware, John Lake and Kelly Reese voted against the motion.

The next council meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 1 at City Hall.

In other news, the council:

*Approved a bid award to M.C. Williams Contracting for around $363,000 for work on Whispering Pines Road. The council cannot appropriate the funds until the Nov. 1 council meeting.

*Authorized Mayor Fred Small to enter into a franchise agreement with Mediacom.

*Approvd a parade permit for the 10th annual Animal Rescue Run on Dec. 18.