DAPHNE, Ala. — The Daphne City Council held an emergency meeting Monday night, but voted down proposals to streamline the approval process for oil spill-related purchases.

Proposals discussed would have empowered Mayor Fred Small to sign a contract with a disaster clean-up company and make purchases related to any contamination from the Deepwater Horizon incident, without further approval from the full council.

The proposal would have also lifted the normal open bidding and council oversight requirements for oil spill-related expenditures.

Daphne’s Emergency Coordinator Chip Martin told the council this would enable a faster response should oil threaten Daphne beaches.

The resolution on equipment purchase was voted down 4-3; the resolution on the emergency cleanup services contract was not brought to a vote.

Concern had been expressed that, because of the Memorial Day holiday on May 31, the next full meeting of the council was not scheduled until June 7. However, council members were concerned that they were working with insufficient details while being asked to sign a “blank check.”

The city has received $500,000 as its part of the funds paid by BP to communities likely to be impacted by the oil slick.

Martin told the council that prices being charged for emergency response services were escalating daily, and that signing a contract as quickly as possible would lock in current prices without obligating the city to any expenses at all, unless oil came into the area.

Regarding a resolution to authorizing training, education and equipment purchases by the city to proceed without specific council approval, Martin stated that much of the equipment needed for a response was on back order. He said that clean-up equipment and materials were in short supply and could take several weeks to be delivered.

However, council members expressed concerns about the lack of details available on both issues.

“I cannot support it. There are way too many unanswered questions,” Councilwoman Cathy Barnette said. “We have to watch out for Daphne and do what is best for Daphne.”

“I am concerned we are looking at a long-term situation,” Councilman John Lake said. “….I am worried in two years we are going to be cleaning up oil from this spill.”

Martin told council members that three companies had submitted bids to the city for emergency clean-up work, and the normal procedure for an emergency response bid was to set a price for items that might be used and then bill the city for items that were used once the specific need had arisen and an appropriate response had been formulated.

Council members asked to see more detail on the bids and hear more about the companies’ track records weathering similar disasters in the past.

“I think from previous discussion it is clear the council is not prepared to write a blank check, when we don’t know the scope,” Councilman Derek Boulware said.

The Daphne City Council’s next regular meeting is set for xxxx June 7 at xxxxx