Selma council president signs security camera contract without mayor approval

After years of arguing over surveillance cameras, the Selma City Council has signed a contract to use local vendor Selcom.

In a press conference at Council Chambers on Tuesday, Council President Billy Young made an announcement that he signed the $400,000 contract with Selcom to choose their bid for security cameras in the city, even though Mayor James Perkins Jr. refused to. Perkins has argued the city should use Alabama Power’s system.

Young said state law allows city council presidents to sign a contract within 10 days after a ruling gets passed by the council if the mayor does not sign it or put in an official opposition. The contract was approved by the council on Feb. 27 with more than two thirds of the council voting in favor.

In a press release, the council says Perkins did not submit his opposition resolution within the legally allotted amount of time.

“I did not want to call this press conference, but I tried and I tried before coming to this,” Young said. “It was not something easy.” 

Rick Williams of Selcom said this contract has been five years in the making. 

“We are excited to see this day. Now we can come in and introduce this technology to the city,” Williams said. “We can add boots on the ground to the Selma Police Department to further enhance their ability to do their jobs.”

Williams said Selcom is a local business that has been in Selma since 1952 and funds spent with the company supports local residents and that “all of our tax dollars stay in this city.”

City Councilwoman Jannie Thomas said the crime in Ward 7 prompted her to support the cameras. 

“We cannot afford to have any more murders. We cannot afford to keep having homes shot up,” said said, adding “just about two weeks ago a home with six babies was shot up.”

Ward 7 resident Shirley Griffin said she hears gunshots often and has a hole in her front window she initially credited to a neighbor cutting grass and slinging a rock, but it was later discovered to be a bullet hole. 

“I moved things around and started looking. Not only did the bullet penetrate the wall but it penetrated the refrigerator,” Griffin said. “I thought, ‘Oh my God, what do I do?’”

After signing the contract, Young said that if there are any problems, “we will consult with our attorney to make sure we follow the proper legal process if necessary.”