Local News
Water Board fires city council member
By Patrick McCrelessA Hanceville City Council member was fired from her job with the city water and sewer board Monday due to alleged misuse of public funds and other violations.
During a special called meeting of the Hanceville Water and Sewer Board, member Charles Wilson made the motion to terminate Sally Alexander from her position as water board clerk. The board unanimously approved the motion, ending Alexander’s 16-year career with the city’s water and sewer department.
“This is a sad day for Hanceville,” water board member Doug Batemon said. “I’m very sad it had to come to this.”
The board’s decision came in response to a recommendation made by a Birmingham firm currently conducting a forensic audit on the Hanceville water board. A forensic audit is typically conducted to investigate possible fraudulent acts.
According to Wilson, the firm recommended Alexander be fired on the basis of numerous financial improprieties allegedly found so far in the auditing process, including the misappropriation of funds, the misuse of the water board credit card, the improper and unauthorized expenditure of water board funds and failure to comply with the employee handbook.
“When this audit started, I said I hope we don’t find anything wrong,” Wilson said. “But this has bothered me from day one.”
Alexander was placed on paid administrative leave in late May, which was a few weeks after the forensic audit began. The audit covers at least a year of financial records, all of which were overseen by Alexander while she was co-manager of the water and sewer board. Alexander was removed from that position last year when the board hired a general utilities manager to oversee the wastewater treatment plant.
Board Chairman Junior Brooks and the other board members declined to comment on the details of the audit or why it was contracted in the first place.
“I have no comment at this time, not until everything is done,” Brooks said.
A timetable for the completion of the audit has not been set.
Hanceville Mayor Kenneth Nail declined to comment on how the audit allegations might impact Alexander’s position on the city council or her position on the city finance committee.
“I can’t really comment because I haven’t been told any particulars about what’s been going on,” Nail said.
Nail noted, however, that the finance committee has no actual authority over any public funds.
Messages left for Alexander were not returned by The Times deadline Tuesday night.
‰ Patrick McCreless can be reached by e-mail at patrickm@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 270.
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