By Cliff McCollum
GCM Managing Editor
cliff@gulfcoastmedia.com
ELBERTA – A number of concerned Elbertans turned up at both the work session and meeting of the Elberta Town Council this week with a litany of questions for their elected officials.
Mike Williams, son of Mayor Marvin Williams, spoke during the work session Monday, chiding the council for their behavior.
“For the past three months, things have been stalemated in this town,” Mike said. “We have got to get over these childish behaviors.”
Mike then told the council he had been circulating a petition to remove Councilmen Jim Hamby, Michael Hudson and John Conti from office.
Mike’s brother Chris directly questioned Hudson, asking if he could get 300 signatures if Hudson would resign.
“If you can get the signatures of all 300 people who voted for me in the last election, I’ll consider it,” Hudson said.
Hudson won his election in 2012 with 299 votes.
Several citizens asked the three council men what their reasons were for missing the April work session and council meeting.
Each of them said they came to the decision to not come to the meetings on their own, with each saying the delayed financial reports and council packets were their reason for not attending.
“I had no time to look over the documents we were voting on, so I was not prepared,” Hamby said. “I didn’t want to vote for something I hadn’t read.”
“When we get these papers, they have everything we are voting on,” Hudson said. “When we get them at the last minute, we could be voting for things that we shouldn’t have voted for, and I wanted to make sure I was looking at everything I was voting on.”
The trio did apologize for not calling and letting people know that they would not be attending the meetings.
At the council meeting Tuesday, Chris Williams said he felt the three had not earned their salary for the month of April.
“I want to ask if you would consider donating your salaries to the library for that month because you didn't show up,” Chris said. “You didn't have the common decency to show up.”
Hudson said he would consider donating his portion to another cause, while Conti said he had not cashed a single check since becoming a council member, but he would not donate to the library fund.
“I won't put it into that fund. These meetings aren’t the only two hours I spent working for this town,” Conti said.
David Koontz told the council they were all acting foolishly.
“This is looking ridiculous,” Koontz said. “We've got grown men acting like children. I don't know how y'all are going to fix this. We have people that care about this town - there's a lot of people that care and we don't want y'all acting how you’re acting right now.”
Councilman Conti’s wife, Kim, questioned the mayor for his actions, specifically giving raises to certain town employees.
“No raises were given to police officers who risk their lives for our citizens,” Kim said. “Many of them work two jobs to make ends meet.”
She then asked the mayor a pointed question.
“Your two sons asked council members what it would take for them to resign,” Kim said. “So I ask you, what would it take for you to resign, Marvin?”
The mayor replied that he was doing what he thought was best for the people of Elberta.
“I was elected by the people of this town. I have supported this town,” Mayor Williams said. “I have done my best, and I will continue to do my best. I support these families and every person who lives in the town in Elberta. I will continue to do that until the citizens in the town of Elberta vote me out of office.”
Departing Town Chaplain Michael Keech said he has worn out his knees praying for the council.
“Y'all have helped this community be able to move forward, but I pray that you guys will figure out how to get back to where you were about a year ago when you were doing the work that needed to be done,” Keech said. “The last six months have been disheartening. I will pray for you guys daily.”
During the meeting, Councilman Conti addressed the issue of the disfunction on the council and the numerous phone calls and questions various members of the town’s government had submitted to the Alabama League of Municipalities.
“We have been inundating the League with questions,” Conti said. “They can't get in the middle of our fight, but the executive director did say he would provide for our town officials to go to Montgomery for a special training course.”
Conti said the League had offered the course free of charge to the town so that the mayor, council members, town clerk and police chief could talk through the town’s questions and issues together. He added that all it would cost the town were expenses for travel and food.
Hudson offered to pay for the gas and offered his two vehicles for travel to the course.
The council voted unanimously to set up a time to meet with the League for that session.
