FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Some department heads feel muzzled by Mayor Tim Kant and unwilling to share their recommendations for how to cut costs in their departments, said City Administrator Gregg Mims, during a special work session of the City Council Monday.

“Most of the folks here don’t feel the freedom to make these kinds of recommendations,” said Mims, after several council members said they weren’t getting the kind of information they requested. “They fear retaliation.”

The meeting was scheduled for reports from department heads on options for reducing expenditures, with the possibility of ending some services or running them more efficiently.

When the meeting began, Mims encouraged department heads to speak up.

“I particularly want the department heads to feel they can speak freely.”

But with a couple exceptions, that didn’t happen.

During a report from the golf department, Councilman Rick Kingrea said he was disappointed with not having received concrete recommendations on how to increase revenues and cut costs.

At that point, Mims interjected that some department heads feared retaliation if they did speak freely about such issues.

“It’s outrageous what I’ve just heard,” Kingrea said. “The person we’re talking about here is the mayor. If he takes some action against you, I’ll move heaven and earth to make sure you still have a job. We need to get the unvarnished truth, and if we don’t get it, we need to do whatever to make sure we do get it.”

A new law passed by the current council that took office in November 2008, changed the termination procedures for most department heads, ensuring that an appeal of any action taken by the mayor goes to the council for a final decision.

Kant attended a conference Tuesday morning of the Alabama League of Municipalities, according to his assistant, and could not be reached for comment by press time.

“We’ll come back with a one-pager for each department that will summarize our recommendations,” said Mims, responding to council member statements that they had not received the information requested for the May 17 meeting.

That information will be provided during a meeting Monday of the Financial Advisory Committee prior to the council meeting that day, Mims said.

“I want unfiltered information and not feel that someone is looking over their shoulder,” Councilman Dan Stankoski said. “I don’t want people coming in and saying they’re afraid.”