Hamilton City Council reviews personnel moves, approves bridge inspection contract and considers joining lawsuit over simplified sellers/use tax

Hamilton City Council convened and handled a slate of routine administrative items, personnel moves and one policy-resolution discussion.

The council opened with a motion to approve the minutes of the Nov. 17 meeting and to approve November accounts payable. The chair called for motions and seconds on both items, and the minutes and vendor payments were presented for the council's vote.

Council members discussed holiday scheduling and personnel leave for December; the body voted on a recommendation allowing city employees to use a vacation day for Friday, Dec. 6 and confirmed that Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 will be paid holidays, with Dec. 26 requiring the use of a personal vacation day.

On economic development, the council reviewed a proposed $25,000 membership for fiscal year 2026 in the Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance, to be paid from the city's general fund. A motion to table consideration of that membership was reported as made by "Frankie" and seconded; the transcript records that a council member named Shane opposed the tabling motion. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally for the final disposition of the membership item beyond that opposition being noted in the meeting audio.

The council authorized Porter and Higginbotham Engineering Inc. to inspect and certify four bridges within Hamilton at a cost of $2,550, a biennial inspection required again in 2026. The recommendation noted the inspection is a recurring statutory/administrative requirement and the quoted price was $2,550.

The council also took up a resolution described in the record as "20 25 dash 12 dash 1" (normalized in this report as Resolution 2025-12-1) intended to include Hamilton in a unified filing opposing a lawsuit challenging the state's simplified sellers/use tax. Jeremy, introduced by the presiding speaker to explain the measure, said, "the simplified sales use tax, basically, is a flat 8% sales tax on online purchases" and framed the resolution as a no-cost way for Hamilton to join other local governments opposing a position reportedly taken by Tuscaloosa. A motion to pass the resolution was made and seconded; the transcript does not include a recorded roll-call or final tally for the vote.

On appointments, the council moved to appoint Connor Fox, Philip Pugh, Clement Sink, Steve Davis and Emily Peterson to the zoning board of adjustment for three-year terms; motions and seconds were recorded and the chair called for votes as part of the item.

On public-safety staffing, the council considered hiring Cody Holland as an APOST-certified police officer for the Hamilton Police Department. The council discussed a recommended pay rate of $21.84 per hour. One speaker explained the department's six-level pay scale, stating that the scale "gives me the discretion with 2 years of service, to hire somebody and pay them $21.84," and described how officers progress through levels based on performance evaluations. The council asked clarifying questions about starting steps, buyouts and internal promotion criteria. The council also authorized posting and accepting applications for a meter reader position in the water department (Grade 1 water operator certification preferred) with an application deadline of Friday, Dec. 12 at 5 p.m.

The meeting included repeated local business announcements and community messages broadcast at the start and end of the recording; Richard Kitchens, owner of Sports Gallery, thanked customers and viewers.

Votes at a glance - Approval of Nov. 17 minutes: motion and second recorded; vote called (tally not fully recorded in transcript audio excerpt). - Accounts payable (November): motion and second recorded; vote called (tally not fully recorded). - Allow city employees to use a vacation day for Dec. 6 and holiday scheduling: motion and second recorded; vote called (tally not fully recorded). - Table membership to Northwest Alabama Economic Development Alliance ($25,000): motion to table made by Frankie and seconded; Shane recorded an opposition to tabling (final tally not fully recorded). - Porter & Higginbotham Engineering bridge inspections ($2,550): motion made; vote called (tally not fully recorded). - Resolution 2025-12-1 (join unified filing re simplified sellers/use tax): motion and second recorded; vote not explicitly tallied in transcript audio. - Appointments to zoning board of adjustment (Connor Fox, Philip Pugh, Clement Sink, Steve Davis, Emily Peterson): motion and second recorded; vote called (tally not fully recorded). - Hire Cody Holland as an APOST-certified officer and set pay at $21.84/hour: motions recorded; discussion on pay scale; vote called (tally not fully recorded). - Post meter reader position (deadline Dec. 12): motion and second recorded; vote called (tally not fully recorded).

What happens next: Several items (appointments, hiring, posting positions and the bridge inspection contract) were advanced by motion and appear procedurally ready for implementation; the transcript excerpt does not consistently record formal roll-call tallies or clear language stating final approval on every item, so departmental staff follow-up or published minutes should be consulted for official vote results and implementation dates.