Fairhope denies economic development office changes

By Guy Busby / guy@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 7/2/19

FAIRHOPE – A rejected proposal by Mayor Karin Wilson to change the Fairhope community and economic development office led to an exchange between the mayor and council members over the role of …

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Fairhope denies economic development office changes

Posted

FAIRHOPE – A rejected proposal by Mayor Karin Wilson to change the Fairhope community and economic development office led to an exchange between the mayor and council members over the role of employees.

On June 24, Wilson asked the council to eliminate the office of director of community and economic development and create two lower-level positions, community development supervisor and project coordinator. The former director of community and economic development, Sherry-Lea Bloodworth Botop, resigned in May to take another position.

“There is no question that this position has accomplished a lot this term and will continue to do so,” Wilson said. “It has brought in a lot of money into the city.”

Wilson said the change in positions would help the city deal with growth in a critical area without greatly increasing costs.

“We need way more than what we’ve been asking for. We’re had 44 percent growth to 2018. That’s not counting this year,” she said. “Do you think we just keep employees at the same rate forever? That just makes no sense.”

Councilman Jimmy Conyers moved to approve the proposal, but the motion died when none of the other three council members would second the motion. Councilman Jay Robinson was not present at the meeting.

Council President Jack Burrell said he questioned creating another city position. He said some employees are being asked to perform tasks that are outside their duties.

“I have some questions about some of the job descriptions versus what they’re doing on a day-to-day basis. I have some hesitation about approving at least the second position,” Burrell told Wilson. “I really want to ask you about the utilities assistant position and what they have been doing. I believe they have been filling more of a role in community development and not assisting the utilities and I have reason to believe that the person in that job has been writing speeches for you which attacked me and other council members.”

Wilson said she had not asked anyone to write any of her comments.

“That is absolutely untrue,” she said. “I don’t know why you use these public meetings to attack me on things you don’t even know about and I’m telling you are not true. It’s ridiculous. Every job description says ‘as needed.’ You have to do that because we are in such a reactionary mode. We don’t have enough help right now to have the level of services that we’ve had.”

Burrell said he and Councilman Robert Brown had seen an email stating that the mayor had asked the employee to write the comments. Brown also said he had been the message.

Wilson said she has not asked any employees to perform functions outside their city duties.

“Whatever I ask employees to do in city business is absolutely my role to do,” she said.