City Council

City of West Point Regular Council Meeting Minutes Monday, January 11, 2020 @ 5:30 PM Via teleconference The regular meeting of the Mayor and Council was held by Teleconference January 11, 2021 at 5:30 P.M. with Mayor Steven M. Tramell presiding. Members Present: Members Absent: Mayor Pro-Tempore Alanteo “Henry” Hutchinson Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter Councilmember Gloria R. Marshall Councilmember Sandra Thornton Councilmember Deedee Williams Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter gave the opening prayer. Mayor Tramell called the meeting of the Council to order. MINUTES Mayor Tramell asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the December 14, 2020 Regular Business Meeting and the December 17, 2020 Special called meeting. Councilmember Sandra Thornton made said motion; seconded by Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III; passed 5-1 vote Councilmember Deedee Williams voted No. FINANCIAL REPORT Mayor Tramell stated the financial report for approval is in the Council packet. Mayor Tramell asked for a motion to approve the December Financial report. Councilmember Sandra Thornton made said motion; seconded by Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III; passed unanimously. AGENDA Mayor Tramell asked for a motion to approve the agenda. Councilmember Deedee Williams made a motion to amend the agenda by adding herself to the agenda to speak for (3) minutes on the current events surrounding the insurrection of the White House and the attack on our nation’s democracy. The amended motion was seconded by Councilmember Sandra Thornton and passed unanimously. Page 2 of 4 • RESOLUTION TO AMEND 2020 BUDGET Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made a motion to amend the 2020 City of West Point Budget to reflect the actual total revenues and expenditures at the end of fiscal year 2020. The 2020 unaudited actual operating revenues $16,414,014 and expenditures of 16,453,660 a difference of -$39,556. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Deedee Williams; passed unanimously. ELECTION MAYOR PRO-TEM Councilmember Sandra Thornton made a motion to appoint Councilmember Gloria R. Marshall as Mayor Pro-Tempore to serve a One (1) year term and until a successor is elected and qualified. Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III seconded the motion; passed unanimously. 2021 APPOINTMENT OF CITY OFFICERS MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE Councilmember Sandra Thornton made a motion to appoint Luther Jones as Municipal Court Judge. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III; passed on a 3 to 2 vote Councilmembers Sandra Thornton, Joseph R. Downs III, and Deedee Williams voted Yes. Councilmembers Gerald W. Ledbetter and Gloria R. Marshall voted No. Councilmember Henry Hutchinson abstained citing professional relationship with Luther Jones. MUNICIPAL COURT RECORDER TEMPORE (ASSISTANT JUDGE) Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made a motion to appoint Benjamin F. Wilcox as Municipal Court Recorder Tempore Assistant Judge. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter; passed unanimously. MUNICIPAL COURT PROSECUTING ATTORNEY Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made a motion to appoint Mark Carlton as Municipal Court Prosecuting Attorney. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Gloria R. Marshall; passed unanimously. MUNICIPAL COURT ASSISTANT PROSECUTING ATTORNEY Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter made a motion to appoint Alex Dixon as Assistant Municipal Court Prosecuting Attorney. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III; passed unanimously. 2 Page 3 of 4 CITY ATTORNEY Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made a motion to appoint Alex Dixon as City Attorney. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter; passed unanimously. MUNICIPAL COURT PUBLIC DEFENDER Councilmember Gerald W. Ledbetter made a motion to table the appointment to Municipal Court Public Defender. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III; During the discussion, Councilmember Deedee Williams asked about the process that will be used to make the appointment for Municipal Court Public Defender. City Attorney Alex Dixon stated it will be the same procedure as the other appointments. The motion passed unanimously. SWEARING IN OF CITY ATTORNEY Mayor Steven Tramell administered the oath of office to City Attorney and Assistant prosecuting Attorney Alex Dixon. COUNCILMEMBER DEEDEE WILLIAMS STATEMENT ON THE INSURRECTION ON THE WHITE HOUSE Councilmember Williams stated the past week has been dark and sad for America. She stated what has been happening over the past few years is not what America is and its not what we are. She questioned whether the failure to speak out against what has been happening was because people were complicit in the actions. She stated we should hold our leaders accountable for the loss of lives last week at the capitol, two were police officers. She stated it was a tragedy whether it was the officers or people of ill will. She asked are we holding our own U.S. Congressman Representative District 3 accountable for his actions specifically for signing to overturn the votes in Georgia and overturning the presidential results. She stated leaders who supported that attack on our voting system and our democracy have stained their hands with the blood of these victims. She ended her comments by asking America who are we? Georgia who are we? West Point who are we? What do we stand for? Who do we want to be? What is each of us going to do to keep working toward a more perfect union? She stated yesterday was the 60th anniversary of the desegregation of the University of Georgia by Hamilton Holmes and Charlayne Hunter. She paraphrased a statement in an opinion piece in the New York Times that was written by Ms. Hunter. Learn from history. History repeats itself. Let us all listen to the echo of our history of our past. She challenged all to do something, say something. She stated now is not the time to stay silence. OTHER 3 Page 4 of 4 Councilmember Henry Hutchinson stated King Mwikuta a citizen of West Point and a graduate of Troup County High School will be playing in the National Championship Football game tonight. He plays linebacker for the University of Alabama. Councilmember Sandra Thornton stated the Miss Southwest Pageant will be May 21st and 22nd at the New Horizon Theater. Councilmember Thornton also stated on Monday January 18, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. EST there will be a virtual Martin Luther King Unity Day of Prayer Service sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc Lambda Zeta Omega Chapter Lanett, Alabama ADJOURN Mayor Tramell asked for a motion to adjourn. Councilmember Joseph R. Downs III made said motion and seconded by Councilmember Sandra Thornton; passed unanimously. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. ________________________ ______________________ Richard McCoy Steven M. Tramell 4