FOLEY, Ala. — Foley City Council members fell silent Monday when a proposed resolution was considered that would have ended five full-time and two part-time jobs within the city workforce. The resolution died for lack of a motion.

Four of the positions that would have been cut within the city would have been in the Community Development Department. According to the proposed resolution, one inspector, one receptionist, one building official, and one code enforcement position would have been cut within CDD. The other full-time job that would have been cut was a custodial position within the Municipal Complex.

Two part-time positions — a laborer and equipment operator within the Street Department — would have also been cut had the resolution been approved. Instead, no council member moved to put the resolution to a vote.

“I thought it was important to see it (the resolution) put on the floor publicly,” Mayor John Koniar said following the meeting.

“I would have preferred to see us have a vote on it, and I guess we did have a vote on it. The position of the council appears to be that they don’t want to lay anybody off.”

Koniar was quick to add, “That’s fine.”

Had the seven positions been cut the city would have saved $112,000 this year and more next year, Koniar said.

The reason four out of the five full-time positions that would have been affected came out of CDD was the current lack of activity in that department, the mayor said.

“My position was that it would be good sense not to pay people that didn’t have anything gainful to do under current activity levels,” Koniar said.

Retaining the seven jobs won’t be a burden on the city and won’t “put us out of business,” he said.

The CDD report given at Monday’s council meeting reflected only one single-family residence permitted in the city during February. In January, no single-family residences were permitted, and the total construction valuation for the month ($104,524) was the lowest in recent memory. February’s total construction valuation was $673,848, but still far below construction figures that preceded the current economic recession.

With council members refusing to put the job layoffs to a vote, a resolution to amend the current city budget was delayed. That resolution, which included the proposed layoffs, called for a reduction of approximately $1.8 million in revenues and a reduction of approximately $3.2 million in expenses. It also called for continuing the current hiring freeze in the city.

In other council business, a resolution was approved to amend the budget to give the Snook Family YMCA $25,000 as opposed to $15,000. Councilman Charlie Ebert III abstained.

The mayor said City Engineer Butch Stokes and Councilman Ralph Hellmich recently attended a meeting with officials from the Alabama Department of Transportation in which the city was given funding in the amount of $400,000 to complete the Goodrich Road project, extending the road to County Road 24. The mayor said that is something Goodrich asked for when officials brought the plant to Foley.

Council members agreed to appropriate $500 for the city to become a participating member of the South Alabama Purchasing Association (SAPA).

A resolution was approved appropriating $24,500 for Taylor Woerner’s renovation of the Soccer Complex.

Approval was also given for up to $5,500 for a pitching machine and ice-maker for the Sports Park and Concessions.

A resolution was approved for a proposal by Riviera Utilities by which the utility will perform power line right of way maintenance and reimburse the city $1,500 annually.

A resolution was approved for a procedural change on all future sales of railroad right of way property owned by the city. The action protects the city from incurring the cost of an appraisal if the property is not purchased. Also, council members approved the first reading of an ordinance conveying three parcels of railroad right of way property in the Stapleton area.

The council approved IED’s bid for disaster debris removal. It rejected the one bid that came in for police uniforms and leather gear and approved a re-bid. Also, a resolution was approved for a COPS Grant application that would fund a police officer position in the city with no matching funds required.

A resolution was approved accepting a ADCNR grant award and accepting a proposal for construction of a canoe launch at Graham Creek Nature Preserve.

Approval was given to convert two Patrol Officer positions to two Patrol/Investigator positions within Foley Police Department with no budget adjustments necessary.

A resolution approved $1,600 for the 2009 Relay For Life Silver Sponsorship.

Council members agreed to accept a letter of resignation from Anthony Kaiser, who is leaving the Museum & Archives Board.

Proclamations were approved declaring March 21, 2009, as “Korean Era Veterans Day” and the month of April as “Child Abuse Prevention Month.”