The Central Alabama Water Board voted Monday evening to cancel the contract with the Jones Group, one of its two contract lobbyists.
According to board lawyers, the utilities contract with the Jones Group includes a conflict of interest clause with one the board's lawyers explaining before the vote, "In the event that there's a conflict of interest, that the board and the lobbyist are to work to see if there is a way around the disagreement as to the conflict of interest."
He explained that he "was requested to write a letter to Mr. Jones, which I did, and the letter the conflict of interest that was alleged was that Mr. Jones group at a lobbying contract with the city of Birmingham and one with Central Alabama water, with both Central Alabama water and City of Birmingham, are in litigation."
The Jones Group website lists the City of Birmingham, the Birmingham Airport Authority, Birmingham Promise and Birmingham Water Works as clients. Their website was never changed to reflect the name and bylaws change from Birmingham Water Works to Central Alabama Water.
According to the attorney, the response was that Mr. Jones "did not see a conflict of interest in representing the city of Birmingham and Central Alabama water, and that in the future, if a conflict arose, that he would recuse himself from representation of both parties."
The vote was to decide if Mr. Jones' letter in reply was sufficient to resolve the conflict or to cancel his contract.
According to meeting minutes, the Jones Group and a second firm, Fine and Geddie, were both awarded new contracts in January 2024 for $15,000 a month. The Jones Group previously represented the Birmingham Water Works board for $10,000 a month, but that contract was terminated at the October 11, 2023, meeting, just months before the new one was signed.
Sheila Tyson asked at this week's meeting, "So that means anybody who's doing business with the city of Birmingham and doing business with the waterworks, we should terminate their contract, too?" asking Mac Underwood if there were others with contracts. Underwood did not have the opportunity to respond before Tyson continued, asking rhetorically if her and fellow board member Jarvis Patton, Sr.'s participation on the board was in conflict because they were appointed by the city of Birmingham, "what are you going to do, terminate us?"
"We know the rabbit got the gun," Tyson said before directing her comments to fellow board member Bill Morris. She added, "You know this ain't right. If you're gonna get rid of Jones, get rid of everybody."
Morris, who was appointed to the board by Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth, replied, "I promise you come January 1, when Fine and Geddie come up, I'll vote yes on them." He went on to explain, "We sell water. All we do is sell water," emphasizing the potential cost savings from ending the contracts.
Tyson insisted, "Fine and Geddie are in Montgomery; they don't know nothin' about Jefferson County." To which Morris replied, "Yes, you're right, you're right."
A motion to suspend the vote to cancel the Jones contract failed, and the board ultimately decided to end it.
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