Mayor selection process under review

By Grace Lovins

Birmingham commissioners discussed potential changes to the procedures for selecting mayor and mayor pro tem at a workshop meeting on Monday, May 8, ultimately adding that a workshop should be held prior to their election to share thoughts and have public input.

The city’s charter says that the commission is responsible for electing mayor and mayor pro tem on November 2 each year, but it does not say how the commission is to do that. Mayor Therese Longe said that the new procedures would apply to the current commission but wouldn’t bind future commissions if they do not want to follow the same process.

Mayor pro tem Elaine McLain suggested the commission revisit the process for selecting mayor and mayor pro tem. McLain recommended hosting a workshop in November before selecting a new mayor and mayor pro tem where the commission can discuss trends, ideas and pros and cons in a public forum for transparency.

Commissioner Katie Schafer brought up the idea of succession planning given they are talking about succession planning in various parts of city government already. In previous years, some commissions have opted to have each commissioner serve a turn as mayor regardless of qualities or qualifications. “This doesn’t seem the kind of role where you just toss the dice and say ‘Well, you didn’t get to go yet, so now you’re up,” she said.

Former mayor and mayor pro tem, commissioner Pierre Boutros, said that the mayor pro tem role is a bit of a succession plan, but that individual still needs the qualities to become mayor rather than just having the title. On top of leading and attending meetings, the mayor’s responsibilities include a lot of behind the scenes work like attending events, hosting visitors, going to ribbon cuttings, giving speeches, officiating weddings and attending conferences.

“You figure out in each case how to represent the city and what opportunities there are to get wins for the city, either individually or collectively. You’re always figuring out how to advance who we are, what we are and what our reputation is,” Longe said.

Both McLain and Longe offered that there could also be value in the mayor and mayor pro tem serving more than a one-year term, but the workshop would allow the commission to discuss what would be the best fit for the city at the time.

“I will say doing it for the second year is definitely different than doing it for the first year, and I have been able to, with Jana [Ecker] and Tom [Markus], bring relationships to the table and been able to develop relationships that you don’t get to do in one year,” Longe said.

No formal action is taken during workshop sessions. The commission requested city staff draft of the procedure changes which would include the proposed workshop during a regularly scheduled meeting.

While Baller asked if there is an opportunity to try it out on a parttime basis and asked if the commission were willing to budget for it, Markus pointed out, “The unanimous motion of the city commission on April 3, 2023 clearly shows that the city commission has no interest at this time in establishing a community foundation to fund events or park improvements, even on a trial or part-time basis. The city commission has not discussed this specific budgetary request, nor has an event coordinator position been proposed in the upcoming budget.”

Markus went on to note that the commission's vote on April 3 was unanimous – and that while Baller's email stated he is willing to personally fund the cost of establishing a foundation, it conflicts with the wishes of the commission, advice of the city attorney and himself as a conflict of interest, and that “Baller should seek an advisory opinion from the ethics board prior to any such involvement in a community foundation to identify potential ethics ordinance violations that may occur as a result.”

“Allow me to state once again that the city is not interested in being a first string partner, nor leading or funding the effort to establish a foundation or to organize numerous cultural and special events. City staff is currently stretched very thin with their existing workload, and continues to have difficulty recruiting and maintaining qualified personnel due to a tough labor market, and now the city commission has directed the creation and addition of two new citizen committees (Environmental Sustainability Committee and the Ad Hoc Aging in Place Committee)…. To take on cultural or special events that could be run by other groups would jeopardize the quantity and quality of city services currently provided that Birmingham residents have come to expect,” Markus emphasized.

Planners okay Greek Island outdoor dining

By Grace Lovins

Greek Islands restaurant, at 221 Hamilton Row in Birmingham, was given the green light by the city’s planning board to move forward with an outdoor dining application after final review on Wednesday, May 10.

The restaurant is proposing to add a new deck with 10 tables which can seat 32 patrons.

The proposed deck will take up two street parking spaces at the front of the building, but since a parking garage is located behind the business, city staff said they were not concerned over the loss. It will also project into the amenity zone, or the pedestrian right-of-way, but will still leave five feet of sidewalk space between the building front and the deck.

Exterior changes were also proposed for a new sign with halo lettering. ‘Greek Islands Birmingham’ will be a 40 square foot sign with reverse channel lettering – individual letters with lights behind each letter. The restaurant still needs to submit measurements for the sign’s projection from the building before approval from the city commission.

Since the city commission has not yet approve the newly drafted outdoor dining ordinance, the deck is still subject to current outdoor dining restrictions. Chairperson Scott Clein emphasized that when the ordinance passes, the deck will either need to be altered or reconstructed since the new rules will not allow for a projection into the amenity zone.

With little discussion or concerns, board members voted 7-0 to approve the final site plan and design review.

Alternate board members Jason Emerine and Nasseem Ramin voted in place of Bryan Williams and Stuart Jeffares.