DAPHNE, Ala. — The Daphne City Council terminated a contract with city prosecutor Jim Scroggins, effective after 30 days’ written notice.

The council voted and only councilman Ron Scott opposed the motion. Council President August Palumbo said the decision was made in large part because of the municipal judge’s reduced salary. The salary of the city prosecutor, under the former contract, was $49,000, according to City Clerk David Cohen. The judge’s salary recently was lowered from $49,000 to $35,000.

“We have to terminate the current contract in order to make a new one,” Palumbo said.

The city prosecutor’s current salary cannot be changed within a current contract; in order to change salary, the contract must be terminated and a new contract must be drawn up.

The council did not state whether Scroggins would receive a new contract.

Palumbo said the decision would not necessarily end the tenure of Scroggins as city prosecutor; it would only end his current contract and give the council the ability to structure a new contract.

“Once the 30 days passes, we can begin discussing a new contract,” Palumbo said.

Councilman Ron Scott expressed concern for the change.

“Four years ago, we had an independent outside committee of citizens who recommended the pay scale,” Scott said. “We took those recommendations. We felt like the committee was well versed and did their homework. I don’t think anything has changed except we had some hungry people who took over the judgeship.

Kenneth Hitson was appointed municipal judge in August. The judge’s salary is $35,000 per year, which is lower from the $49,000 range in previous terms.

Scott also opposed lowering the judge’s salary.

“In order to keep a safe community, the municipal judge and the city prosecutor are critical positions, and I don’t think we need to have anything but the best possible people in those positions,” he said. “To save a few thousand dollars and put the citizens at risk is not the best move in my opinion.”

The City Council will hold a work session at 6:30 p.m. Monday in City Hall. The next regular business meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 20 in City Hall. Both meetings are open to the public.