Members of the Athens City Council on Monday heard early arguments about why they should — and shouldn’t — decide the issue of legalizing Sunday sales.

Though no public meeting was scheduled on the matter, a few members of the audience provided differing opinions. A piece of local legislation sponsored in Montgomery by State Rep. Danny Crawford, R-Athens, would give the council authority to approve Sunday sales without a public referendum if they choose.

First United Methodist Church Rev. Kenny Baskins, who said he was speaking on behalf of the Athens-Limestone Ministerial Alliance, referenced citywide animosity that occurred in 2003 when the city decided to go wet.

He expressed concerns of five people making a decision that would affect the city’s population. He also said he’s heard the concerns about certain businesses refusing to come to Athens if Sunday sales aren’t legal, but added he doesn’t buy or drink alcohol.

“We have to be careful as a nation where representatives do not exert too much authority or abdicate the right for the majority to speak,” Baskins said. “I really think it should be a citywide vote instead of a council vote.”

His plea for a referendum was followed by two pleas to keep the decision in-house. Melanie Newton, director of downtown revitalization group Athens Main Street and Doug Gates, board president of Athens Main Street, were both in favor of letting the council decide the matter.

One of Newton’s reasons is the cost associated with a citywide referendum, cited by city officials to be at least $40,000.

“I have confidence in you councilmen and … you represent the majority of your constituents and you would (represent them) regardless of your personal view,” she said.

Green reappointed

Elsewhere Monday, the council narrowly reappointed Tim Green to the Athens City School Board by a vote of 3-2. Councilmen Wayne Harper and Harold Wales both voted against Green as they had done in May of last year.

Though Green’s term expired last May, a board member may remain on the board until reappointed or replaced.

Harper simply said he felt “change was needed” on the board, but declined to get into specifics. Wales was much more vocal about his opposition.

“Of all the complaints I’ve heard about (Green’s) management style, it’s not something I can support,” he said. “I probably heard from eight-to-12 teachers and other personnel within the board of education and they weren’t satisfied with him at all. I double-checked some of them and found out they were true, so I couldn’t support that.”

Green’s term will run through May 24, 2021.

Other business

In other business, the council:

• Approved the purchase of three new police cars at a cost of $66,780, plus the cost for equipment;

• Withdrew a resolution to demolish an unsafe structure at 708 Westmoreland Ave. after it was determined improvements had been made to the property;

• Approved a retail beer and wine license for Food Fite at Athens State University. Mayor Ronnie Marks explained during a work session that it would benefit catering operations and alcohol would not be sold on campus;

• Accepted the low bid of $214,838 to purchase switchboards to be used in the Buck Island electrical substation;

• Declared the weekend of July 21-23 as a sales tax holiday on school supplies;

• Approved the purchase of commercial dumpsters at a cost of $75,000. Sanitation Director Earl Glaze told the council the dumpsters cost $800 to $900 each and leasing the dumpsters helps fund the sanitation department;

• Entered into an agreement with the state to resurface Nick Davis Road from Lindsay Lane to Mooresville Road. The $647,450 project is one of the city’s major projects covered by the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (ATRIP) grant program. The city and Limestone County are sharing matching costs; and

• Granted Verizon Wireless a special use permit to modify equipment at 14022 Alabama 251. Modifications will include the addition of a temporary microwave dish and safety enhancements.