DAPHNE, Ala. — The Daphne City Council approved just under an $80,800 appropriation for the Garbage Department’s personnel and operating costs through the 2010 fiscal year.

Councilmen Derek Boulware and August Palumbo opposed the appropriation. Boulware in the past has expressed opposition to appropriation from reserve funds.

“This appropriation fixes something that shouldn’t have happened,” Boulware said.

“I would like to go on the record and say I don’t agree with this.”

“The money was already spent,” Councilman Ron Scott said, adding that the finance committee recommended Tuesday’s measure. “It was just a bookkeeping clarification. These are dollars that have been already spent.”

The money will be taken from reserve funds to cover costs of fuel, past vehicle insurance and employees’ pay. Public Works Director Richard Johnson told the council in August that the transition to single-worker garbage operations is complete, but took longer than expected, which meant the garbage department was paying for extra employees.

“The budget expected a much quicker transition to move to single-garbage operations. It took three-quarters of the fiscal year,” Johnson said to council members at an August council meeting.

The council voted against a $75,000 appropriation for the garbage department in August.

Asked if the decision to vote against the appropriation in August was because the council did not have enough information, Scott responded, “I think so. I voted for it in August. I think I had enough information in August, but I don’t know if others had enough information.”

In other news, the council:

*Appropriated just over $35,900 for the Civic Center HVAC control system upgrade. The civic center could save up to 10 to 20 percent on energy costs with the implementation of the system upgrade.

*Appropriated $30,000 for improvements to the Richard Scardamalia Pavilion Building. The money will go to sub-floor repairs and installation.

*Accepted the Southeast Rivers and Streams grant for the installation of a cistern and bio-retention garden near the back entry to City Hall. The cistern would handle storm water runoff for the building.

*Approved an amendment to the city’s drug and alcohol policy that coincides with the Alabama Department of Transportation’s workplace drug and alcohol testing programs.