The Russellville Electric Board adopted a new policy regarding rules for citizens who wish to address the board at its monthly business meetings, including limiting a citizen to one five-minute appearance every three months.
The board unanimously approved the resolution at its May 24 meeting.
The restrictive policy requires “individuals desiring to make an oral presentation to the Electric Board of the City of Russellville, Alabama,” to “contact the Office of the Electric Board of the City of Russellville, Alabama, by noon, a minimum of three business days prior to the meeting...and request to be on the agenda.”
The resolution also provides a five-minute maximum speaking time and limits any individual to “one appearance per quarter/one appearance every three months for the purpose of making an oral presentation...”
Last month, three citizens addressed the board including Russellville resident Sasha Franklin, who was also on the May 24 agenda. The three citizens posed several questions to board members, but received no response on any inquiries.
Franklin referenced Manager Charles Canida and his board's refusal to answer citizen inquiries. Those questions centered around board approval of expenditures including an $84,000 luxury SUV for Canida, a private fishing boat charter, $3,000 dinners on beach conference trips and Canida's purchase on a REB credit card of thousands of dollars of fine chocolates.
Franklin spoke for approximately two minutes Tuesday.
“I appreciate the opportunity to address you. It looks like I won't get another one for at least three months,” Franklin told the board.
“If all you're doing is legal and legitimate, why not answer any questions people had last month? Your silence speaks volumes,” Franklin added.
A visibly frustrated Franklin left the meeting with doubts his words would be heeded by Canida or the board.
“I'd like each of you to go home to your nice house tonight and remember there are a lot of people in our community who have to make a choice to take medication or eat,” Franklin said. “When you're spending all that money on these trips. I understand you have to go to some conferences for education but there are a lot of you taking these as vacations for your family. If none of this bothers you, I just pray God has mercy on you.”
Business items approved by the board included:
--renewed a $1 million line of credit with CB&S Bank in place for emergency situations. REB Accountant Tiffany Holt said the board has never drawn on the line of credit, but bank officials require the board to renew it at a meeting each year.
--approved an action that will provide a lump sum payment from the Retirement Systems of Alabama to all REB retirees and beneficiaries of deceased retirees. The payment will be in addition to each retiree's October 2022 regular retirement payment and will be approximately $2 for each month of service with REB.
--heard a request from Canida to hire Russellville Police Officer Chad Sheffield as a First Period Tree Trimmer at a starting rate of pay of $20.96/hour. Sheffield will fill a vacancy created by former tree trimmer Gabe Wallace entering the IBEW Apprentice Program. Canida said Wallace will 'transition' into the line crew.
--approved a $10,000 expense to help sponsor the City of Russellville's annual Fourth of July Jam on Sloss Lake. Canida read a letter from Russellville Mayor David Grissom asking the board to support the event in the same amount it sponsored in previous years.
--Canida read the municipal court order entered in the Criminal Trespass, Third Degree case against Dwight Jackson. Jackson was found guilty in a trial earlier this month. The evidence showed Jackson went to pay his utility bill at the main office after being served in 2019 with a no-trespass order.
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