Homewood council leaders and petitioners push council‑manager change; organizers aim for August or September vote

Nick Sims, a Homewood city councilor for Ward 3, opened the informational session and introduced the panel and materials available for residents to review.

Sam Gaston, city manager of Mountain Brook, told residents that professional city managers serve as administrative heads who “supervise the day to day operations of the city” and prepare comprehensive budgets for elected officials to approve. He described three reasons Alabama has fewer professional managers — limited statewide advocates for the council‑manager model, earlier legislative barriers and local political culture — and said the council‑manager form typically brings centralized budgeting, performance measurement and long‑range planning.

Council President Alex Wyatt, who represents Ward 4, said Homewood needs a full‑time executive who is “available as their job.” Wyatt and the council’s ad‑hoc committee recommended the statutory council‑manager scheme because it clearly defines mayor and council roles, he said, reducing ambiguity that can arise under a city‑manager by ordinance model.

Under the statuto…