Council authorizes amendment to Port City Transit pension agreement amid objections from Reynolds

The Mobile City Council authorized an amendment to the Port City Transit pension plan agreement on Sept. 30, despite vocal opposition from Councilman R. Reynolds, who said he would not support the change.

The clerk read item 01-12-47 into the record: ‘‘Authorize amendment to Port City Transit pension plan agreement.’’ During discussion, Councilman Reynolds said, ‘‘I don't think this is a good idea for our city. I think we should take this opportunity to address this long standing pension issue that exists with transit union and this new contract with Via. ... I won't be in support of this.’’ Reynolds argued the city had historically made commitments to employee pensions and that changing the employment structure is an occasion to reconsider pension design while noting rising costs for public transit.

Despite Reynolds’ objection, the council proceeded and approved the amendment. The transcript records the objection and the final motion’s passage but does not provide a roll-call tally in the excerpt provided.

City staff and the item’s proponents did not provide detailed language of the pension amendment in the public excerpt; the council voted to authorize the amendment and to proceed under the terms set in the agenda item. Further details on the amendment’s provisions, cost implications, and effect on existing retirees or employees were not included in the meeting excerpt and will appear in the contract documents and administrative records.