Irondale council holds work session to clarify after-hours access policy and key access

Irondale City Council met for a 5:30 p.m. work session to discuss a resolution passed at a prior meeting that changed after-hours access to City Hall and the counselors’ conference room.

Council members said the resolution’s intent was to add a safety layer — sign-in logs and dispatch notification — while still allowing after-hours work, but that implementation had caused confusion about key access and custody of security. “The goal or the intent was never to prevent anyone from being able to do anything,” Councilman Box said, adding that the policy was “meant to do was simply provide a layer of safety, a sign in sheet so that everybody knows who's in the building.”

Why it matters: Council members said the change affected routine work, such as picking up bills and using the counselors’ conference room for private meetings or executive sessions, and they want staff not to be put “in the middle” of enforcement. Council members also raised safety concerns if dispatch is not aware a person is in the building during an emergency.

Discussion highlights - Councilman Box said he had expected keys or a code to remain available to council members and that he learned they were not provided when he attempted to access the conference room. “I was surprised that I could not get a key or get the combination to the conference room to go and check my mailbox,” he said. - Councilor Blair said checking in with dispatch is wise and that cameras and a sign-in log can address safety while preserving access: “I don't have a problem with going in and checking in with dispatch … but I need to get in the building. I should not have to ring a doorbell.” - Several members, including Councilman London and Councilwoman McPherter, said they preferred to resolve access and custody questions with the mayor and with Councilor Sims present, and that changes or amendments should be shared with council members when they are made. - A city staff member addressed as Miss April reminded the council of the separation of roles, saying, “a city council person cannot tell or ask a city employee to do anything. We are a legislative body.”

Outcome and next steps No formal change to the resolution was taken in the work session. Council members agreed to postpone definitive action until absent members, including Councilor Sims and the mayor, could participate. Several members proposed practical fixes — restoring keys or providing a back-door code, requiring dispatch sign-in for guests, and installing hallway surveillance before returning to broader access — but those were discussed as options rather than adopted policy.

The council president and members said they will schedule a follow-up work session or executive session to reconcile custody/control of security, distribution of keys or combinations, and the resolution language so staff are clear on enforcement.