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Public commenter asks Athens council to delay reimbursement for council member while employee is in ICE custody
Summary
Amanda Schulte urged the council not to approve taxpayer reimbursement for Council President Chris Seibert while an employee connected to the agenda item is in ICE custody; staff clarified the item is a reimbursement of an expense and one council member suggested tabling the matter but the council handled the consent calendar as presented.
During the public-remarks portion of the meeting, Amanda Schulte identified herself and asked the council to consider postponing approval of a reimbursement to a council member because, she said, an employee connected to that member is in ICE custody.
"I'm just asking that the council determine whether taxpayer funds should be approved while matter connected to a sitting council member is under federal review," Schulte said. She explicitly framed the request as a pause on using public funds while the federal matter remains unresolved.
City staff and council members responded that the agenda item in question is a reimbursement of an expense for Leadership Alabama rather than a salary payment. One council member (Creasy) suggested tabling the item until the issue is resolved; staff reiterated that the item reimburses documented expenses rather than creating a new payment stream.
Council subsequently proceeded with the consent calendar votes and approved the reimbursement item with the beneficiary (Council President Chris Seibert) abstaining from the vote.
No formal finding or investigation was recorded on the meeting record; the public comment was a request to the council to consider timing and optics when approving reimbursements tied to elected officials while external matters affecting employees are unresolved.
