Anniston council appoints Kenneth Free as city manager, vote recorded 4–0 with one abstention

The Anniston City Council voted Tuesday to appoint Kenneth Free as the city manager, subject to negotiation and execution of a mutually agreeable appointment agreement.

The motion to appoint Kenneth Free passed on a roll-call vote with four members voting yes and one abstention. Council members voting yes were Council member Downing, Council member Harrington, Council member Harris and Mayor Smith. Council member Roberts recorded an abstention. Council records show the appointment is contingent on final contract negotiations.

The appointment was moved and seconded during the council meeting; the council clerk conducted a roll-call vote and the mayor announced that Kenneth Free had received a majority. The council said negotiations on an appointment agreement will begin soon and the executed agreement will be returned to the council for finalization.

Transcript entries refer to the appointee with two closely matching names: the motion and roll-call record use the name Kenneth Free; later in the meeting the mayor offered congratulations to “Kenneth Freeman.” The council did not provide a clarifying correction on the record; the appointment notice and final contract should be checked for the official spelling when the agreement is executed.

The appointment followed routine agenda business earlier in the meeting, including minutes approval and a consent agenda that the council approved by roll call.