The Montgomery County Commission declined to consider a request from the county’s legislative delegation to staff an office for them.
House Bill 556 calls for the city of Montgomery and the Montgomery County Commission to create and operate the Montgomery County Legislative Delegation Office. The delegation consists of legislators serving the county, including Reps. Philip Ensler and Will Barfoot.
The city of Montgomery is supposed to provide the space, and the county commission is being asked to provide $500,000 to pay for an office manager and two administrative assistants. The staff would work for and report to the delegation, not the county.
After some lively discussion, the commission agreed to remove a resolution concerning the request from its March 17 agenda.
Commission Chair Doug Singleton said that the city of Montgomery is “adamantly” opposed to paying for an office.
Commissioner Daniel Harris said that he was not opposed to the office, but he suggested that the commission negotiate with the delegation to avoid paying for its staff. He believed that there were other funds available for the delegation to staff their office.
Singleton said that while legislative delegations from counties far away from the capital need such offices, the local delegation can meet constituents in the new Alabama State House when it opens next year.
Harris said the commission should have met with the delegation to hear their case for a separate office, and Commissioner Isiah Sankey said he agreed with having an office, but he pointed out that the delegation should have approached the commission earlier.
The Montgomery County Commission meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 101 South Lawrence Street. Information sessions begin at 10 a.m. followed by the formal meeting.
Livestreamed meetings can be seen on the commission’s YouTube and Facebook pages.
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