DAPHNE, Alabama— At Monday night’s City Council work session, council members discussed a proposed ordinance on pre-fabricated accessory structures in residential neighborhoods. But sparks flew between councilmen John Lake and Ron Scott and the debate became heated when the subject turned to a municipal job opening.

Lake and Scott, who have butted heads before, caused some awkward tension in council chambers over the municipal judge job opening.

At issue was how the council planned to go about appointing a new judge. Lake was in favor of the process used last time where each council member nominated one person for the position and after reviewing each nominee, the council would make a decision.

Scott was in favor of advertising the position and forming a committee to make recommendations to the council after reviewing all the applications.

After Lake had been talking for a few minutes, Scott told him he was “out of order.” Lake told Scott that this was a work session and didn’t see how he was out of order since this was not a formal meeting. The two argued over it and finally left the issue alone. It was brief intermission though. As Lake started talking again and Scott proclaimed he was out of order again.

At the end of the meeting, Scott took a playful jab at Lake asking him if he had been at the revolutionary war battle that took place near Village Point. Lake laughed and Scott announced that “Me and Mr. Lake can become a little feisty at times.”

During the meeting, Village Point Foundation president Selena Vaughn spoke to the council about a piece of land the city was planning to buy to add to the park. Zoning administrator Adrienne Jones ran a proposed ordinance by the council for input. The ordinance concerned pre-fabricated accessory buildings. The ordinance seeks to limit the size and amenities these structures are allowed to have. The issue was raised after the planning department became aware of a citizen attempting to put Katrina cottages on his property without proper tie-downs.