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Council pulls agenda item and seeks answers over $243,000 paid on traffic‑service contract
Summary
A work‑session withdrawal drew questions about a traffic‑service contract and an apparent $243,000 payment to a Louisiana firm that reportedly had not staffed up or begun work; council asked legal and staff to determine payment status and termination authority.
The council withdrew an agenda item on a traffic‑service contract after members raised questions about roughly $243,000 in payments to a vendor that had not started work, according to comments during the Montgomery City work session.
Councilors said they had been told the company had not hired staff, set up a hiring website, or purchased vehicles and that no invoices had been presented to city departments. Several members asked whether the city could stop payment on a check and whether the contract could be terminated. Legal staff told the council the mayor believes he has authority to terminate under a contract clause but acknowledged the question could be argued both ways and that the council might need to act if termination has not already occurred.
MPD representatives told the council they had not received invoices and that the company had not effectively started work. One council member asked who authorized the payment before the contract start date and asked staff to bring documentation to the regular meeting.
What’s next: Council directed staff and legal to provide documentation about the payment, whether the check has been cashed, and who authorized the disbursement. The item was withdrawn from the work session agenda and will be revisited once those questions are answered.
