FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The City Council ended Fairhope’s long-standing policy of providing free police escorts to funeral processions Monday night, following more than a month of a very public power struggle between the police chief, mayor and a local funeral director.

The council passed a resolution stating the city “will not provide police escorts by the Fairhope Police Department for funerals, except in the case of firefighters, police officers, and citizens of Fairhope on active military duty who are killed in the line of duty.”

Mayor Tim Kant spoke against the proposed resolution before the vote, as did his longtime ally Councilman Mike Ford. He was the only council member to vote against the resolution.

During the public participation section of the meeting, Gary Wolfe, owner of the only funeral home in Fairhope, argued against the change in policy, as did his attorney.

Local activist Willie Williams also criticized the policy and said a recent funeral without a police escort posed a safety hazard and was disrespectful to the family.

Police Chief Bill Press asked the council for a two-week grace period for local funeral homes to make adjustments to the new policy that became effective Tuesday. Council President Lonnie Mixon said that could occur, but the full council did not vote on that request.

After the council meeting, a heated exchange occurred between Wolfe and Councilman Rick Kingrea, who sponsored the resolution and has called the policy a subsidy to businesses like Wolfe’s.

As has happened during the past two council meetings, several dozen supporters of the previous policy attended the meeting. After the council voted to end the free funeral escort service, most of them stood and walked out of the room.

In other business, the council:

• Appointed Erik Cortinas and Michelle Smith and reappointed Hank Mullins to the Recreation Board. Those three were selected from eight applicants. The appointment process was continued from the last council meeting when three applicants had been nominated that did not include either Mullins or Smith. At the May 10 council meeting, Councilwoman Debbie Quinn noted the lack of diversity among nominees and requested the appointments be delayed for two weeks to allow others to apply. In the interim, four new applicants and Mullins applied.

• Adopted an ordinance that regulates use of red clay in local construction projects, among other measures, and replaces the Coastal Protection Ordinance.

• Adopted ordinances regulating noise and hours when sale of alcohol is permitted in local businesses.

• Adopted an ordinance establishing that the placement, use and investment of city funds are at sole discretion of city treasurer.

• Passed a resolution requiring that all payments for mileage reimbursement be submitted to the city treasurer on an approved form. Ford said the resolution was aimed at Mayor Tim Kant and said he would make a resolution at the next council meeting recommending the city buy Kant a city vehicle.