Ashford Town Council ADMITS - Actions Of Tuesday Night Are Null and Void : Possible Racial Discrimination

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
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Date: Nov 06 2019 9:26 PM

ASHFORD:     The Mayor and members of the Ashford Town Council had a Special Called Meeting on Tuesday Evening. However the meeting was in violation of the Alabama Open Meetings Law.

This afternoon, after the RSN article, on the City of Ashford FACEBOOK they posted the following " Due to error in not giving ample notification for the special called meeting on November 5, 2019, that meeting has been declared null and void. There will be a special called meeting on Thursday November 14, 2019, 4:30 PM, at City Hall."

A number of months ago the Ashford Town Council voted to move the Ashford Town Council meetings from the Ashford Depot to the Ashford Senior Citizens Center.

Last night's illegal meeting was held at Ashford City Hall. Notice was not posted until around noon on Tuesday for a Special Called Meeting and did not change the locations. That is against the Alabama Open Meetings Law. RSN already was having the legal documents drawn up to filed a civil suit for violation of the Open Meetings Law. The fine can be up to $ 1,000.00 against everyone who participated in the illegal meeting. They can not use the Ashford Legal Counsel and the City of Ashford can not pay the fine.

Since the Town Council declared their actions as null and void and realized RSN did know that RSN was talking about we will not file the civil suit.

TO THE ISSUE   

The Ashford Town Council voted last night to terminate one employee and cut the hours of three who all work at the Ashford Senior Citizens. It is odd that all four employees are minorities, African American's, and all worked at the Ashford Senior Citizens Center.

The Ashford Town Council Members never told the employees of the Ashford Senior Center they were cutting the employees hours.

It was mentioned in a budget meeting but has never been mentioned to the employees they were cutting the hours.

Of the four employees has over 22 years with the City of Ashford, one had 11 years, one 11 years, the one they terminated had four years. Sources have said the employees were shocked at the action of the Ashford Town Council. RSN was amazed at the lack of respect and backbone these Council Members and Mayor has had towards the employees and the Senior Citizens.

In my opinion and my opinion only, in discussion with some legal friends  of mine in the court system, with all of the employees cut being minorities and long term employees, could cost the City of Ashford hundreds of thousands of dollars in the actions of the Ashford Town Council. LET ME BE CLEAR, I have not asked any of these employees of their future intentions. These comments are strictly in conversation with some attorney friends of mine.

WHAT IS DISAPPOINTING IS, the Ashford Downtown Redevelopment Authority is working very, very, very hard to change to image of the City of Ashford and make it grown economically. And for each step they make forward it seems the members of this Council makes them move 5 steps backwards.

And the members of the Ashford Downtown Redevelopment Authority are some extremely respected men and women in Ashford.  Sorry folks.

And to the employees and Senior Citizens, while I do not live in Ashford, I apologize for the way the members of the Ashford Town Council is treating ya'll.

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