Changes to Mayor-Council Act Deepening Rift at Birmingham City Hall

| June 8, 2017 

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Changes to the Mayor-Council Act after the 2016 legislative session granted Birmingham Mayor William Bell more autonomy when it comes to budgetary decisions. The modifications have only deepened the rift between the office of the mayor and the city council. One of the most contentious issues is Bell’s relationship with consulting firm Handprint Bell. The firm has received roughly half a million dollars from Bell in the last year and the Mayor-Council Act now gives Bell the authority to “retain the services of outside counsel.” For more, we turn to Nick Patterson, editor of the weekly newspaper Weld.

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