As a result of several actions taken recently involving Daphne’s planning department, a complaint has been filed with the Alabama Ethics Commission against Mayor Dane Haygood.

Outgoing Councilman John Lake said he moved forward with filing the complaint against Haygood after what he said were several problems were raised at a recent council meeting.

“There have been a number of actions taken by the mayor recently that have raised major concerns for me and some of our city’s employees,” Lake said.

Lake said the complaint stemmed from two permit issuances that were signed by Haygood without express approval or consultation from the city’s planning commission or planning director, as well as a road that was recently constructed on property owned by Haygood.

“We have ordinances in this city for a reason, and they’re supposed to apply to everyone equally,” Lake said. “If the mayor is bending the rules to allow himself more leeway than the average citizen, that’s certainly a huge problem that needs to be looked at and fully investigated.”

At a recent council meeting, Daphne Community Development Director Adrienne Jones raised several of the concerns Lake mentioned in his ethics complaint.

“In September, there were two businesses requesting licenses at properties that were zoned commercial/industrial,” Jones said. “Neither business was permitted in that classification but they were granted licenses to operate.”

Jones added that in October, there was a site development operating without a permit that she began to look into, but soon received a letter from the city attorney’s office that the work “being done on that site is not subject to site plan review.”

While City Attorney Jay Ross’ office had issued an opinion on that matter, a letter was sent last week saying that his office would like time to further study the matter.

“I am temporarily rescinding my letter to you of October 14, 2016 regarding the above referenced matter,” Ross wrote. “Based on additional facts received and research I have performed in the last several days, there may be the need to clarify my prior opinion.”

For his part in the matter, Haygood said he did not know of any complaint that had been filed.

“I was unaware that any complaint had been filed about this or anything else,” Haygood said. “I’ll be having legal counsel look into the matter.”