On Monday, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin took to social media to address the rumored frontrunner for chief executive officer (CEO) for Central Alabama Water (CAW), Jeff Thompson.
"The same folks who took Birmingham's voice off the board are now trying to hand-pick Jeff Thompson, a former Birmingham Water Works executive who was part of the billing crisis that cost thousands of our families time, money, and trust," Woodfin wrote.
According to Thompson's LinkedIn page, he recently left his position as chief operating officer and executive vice president at DC Water. Before that, he worked at Blue Drop LLC, which is the non-profit affiliate of DC Water.
He worked at Birmingham Water Works for a little over three and a half years from 2019 to 2023.
News of Thompson's potential return to the utility was first reported by AL(dot)com, who confirmed with him that he interviewed for the position.
"I'm certainly interested in any opportunities that might come my way," Thompson told the outlet. "I certainly have familiarity with CAW's operations, but I have not been named or voted on or anything. That is really at the discretion of the board what they chose to do."
Woodfin pointed out that CAW "hired Russell Reynolds Associates to find the 'best possible' CEO for Birmingham's water system," saying, "They signed the contract. They promised transparency. They promised integrity. And it was all a lie."
The situation closely mirrors the return of Mac Underwood, a long-time Birmingham Water Works executive who was hired in his current position as general manager after a "national search."
The new law, SB330, requires the board to have a CEO, stating:
A regional board shall employ a chief executive officer with full authority to manage the operations of the regional board, subject to policy directives and other governance decisions adopted by the board of directors. Employees of a regional board shall report directly or through subordinates who report to the chief executive officer and may not be ordered or instructed by a director of the board. Employment contracts, construction contracts, consulting contracts, engineering contracts, and other contracts between the regional board and other persons shall be recommended by the chief executive officer, except for the employment contract of the chief executive officer, which shall be recommended by the board of directors. The chief executive officer shall recommend to the board of directors individuals to serve as chief financial officer and other executive level employees.
The employment contract of the chief executive officer shall provide for a fixed term of office that may be extended with or without modification of other terms by agreement of the board of directors and the chief executive officer. The board of directors may terminate the employment of the chief executive officer for a material failure to perform his or her duties after providing reasonable notice of a failure and the opportunity for a hearing thereon.
Central Alabama Water has not yet commented on Thompson's selection or Woodfin's remarks.
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