FAIRHOPE, Alabama — 1. A federal investigation into the city’s award of a $639,000 contract to state Sen. Trip Pittman (R-Montrose) for oil spill clean-up work following the BP oil rig explosion had been rumored since late 2010. But it was confirmed when The Courier reported on Sept. 17 that grand jury subpoenas had been served two days earlier on Mayor Tim Kant and at least half a dozen senior city staff members for  information involving the contract. The Courier also reported on Oct. 7 that a subpoena had been served that week on Pittman’s business for documents involving the contract. Pittman has denied any wrongdoing and stated that he is cooperating with authorities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Mobile has declined comment about the investigation, and the subjects, allegations, extent and status of the investigation had not been confirmed as of deadline.

2. Prompted by a letter from Kant in early 2010, a year-long investigation by the Alabama Ethics Commission into the use of a private bank account to pay police officers for off-duty employment resulted in ethics charges against Police Chief Bill Press, which were disclosed by Press in March. Following two hearings before the Montgomery agency, Press was cleared of the charges in August, with the City Council later ordering the city to pay his $20,000 in legal fees.

3. A state Supreme Court opinion in May held that mayors have sole authority to hire and fire most city employees, overturning decades of advice to cities by the Alabama League of Municipalities based on state Attorney General’s opinions that councils could pass ordinances giving that power to themselves. The case radically re-shifted the balance of power in Fairhope, requiring the adoption of a new ordinance that returned authority for hiring and firing of senior city staff to the mayor.