SILVERHILL, Ala. — The Silverhill Town Council split on several issues coming before the council’s regular meeting on Monday at Town Hall.

First, the council narrowly voted to approve an impact fee ordinance for the town.

The ordinance will allow the town to impose a 1 percent fee on all new construction in the town.

When asked, Mayor Tim Wilson said whoever applies for a building permit in the town would be responsible for paying the fee.

The measure narrowly passed with council members Jared Lyles, Steve Brooks and Shirley Stephens voting for the measure. Bert Jones and Rodney Criswell voted against the measure. Wilson abstained from voting. All council members were present at Monday’s meeting.

The vote was also split over whether or not to have the town pay for council members, town employees and their spouses to attend the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet in January at a cost of $35 each.

Stephens made a motion to have individuals pay on their own to attend the banquet, but the measure failed to pass with only Stephens and Criswell voting for the measure.

Lyles then made a measure for council members and other town officials to have their fee to attend the banquet paid, but they would be responsible for paying for spouses. The measure passed with Brooks casting the lone dissenting vote.

It was also announced who would be the recipient of the town’s Progressive Award. Lyles made a motion to accept the proposed award and that the town pay for that individual and their spouse. The measure passed with Criswell voting against.

In other business the council voted to deny a request from the town’s Planning Commission to change the verbiage on lot of record definition for the town.

Under the current definition, no new construction is allowed on lots less than 100 feet by 125 feet, unless the request is made by the person who owned the property when the town zoning laws were adopted in 1973.

By changing the verbiage, it would allow construction on several 50-foot lots which exist in the town.

“I don’t think there’s anyone here who doesn’t want this,” said Lyles, who made the motion to deny the measure. “I just think the wording is too vague and it opens us up for someone to come in and build several houses on 50-foot lots and that’s not what we want.”

Several council members agreed that for isolated lots where there was nothing that could be done otherwise, it was needed, but additional safeguards needed to be put into the measure.

In other business Monday, the council:

— Tabled a resolution in support of captive insurance,

— Tabled action on alley vacation for the Johnson property.

— Voted to deny a measure to place an ad in the Baldwin Register for the upcoming county Bicentennial.

— Voted to deny an advertisement for B.R.A.T.S.

— Voted to give $300 to Silverhill Elementary School in support of the school’s honors program. The measure passed unanimously with Criswell and Wilson abstaining.

— Voted to set Feb. 28, 2009 for the town’s annual Arbor Day tree giveaway beginning at 8 a.m.

In an unrelated matter, Wilson announced that the town had received a grant from Auburn to receive 100 trees that would be planted in the town. The town has applied for several grants for the coming year, Wilson said, for improvements to the town’s water system, sidewalks and road improvements around Silverhill School.

— Approved a Movie in the Park night to be held Friday, Dec. 19 at the town’s ballpark. The evenings festivities would begin around 6 p.m. Admission to the event is free. Concessions will be sold with proceeds going for the upkeep of the Silverhill Kids Park.