City Council announces Ward 4 replacement

Ward 4 Place 2 Representative Heather Reid announced at the Aug. 11 city council meeting that the new representative for Ward 4 Place 1 will be Barry Wise Smith. Smith was one of 11 applicants who interviewed for the position, formerly held by Jenifer Champ Wallis, and Reid said it was a challenge to decide on one.

“They’re all extremely high-quality individuals,” Reid said. “We literally could have chosen any of those candidates.”

Smith is a resident of Crest Drive and has lived in Homewood for 18 years. She is the director of the nursery and parents’ day out program at Trinity United Methodist Church as well as a freelance writer and editor. She is currently a member of the Homewood City Schools Foundation and has previously served on the Edgewood Elementary PTO.

“She is highly respected in several areas in Homewood: her job, her past career, her volunteer work,” Reid said. “She’s got a lot of integrity.”

Reid said that the council narrowed the list of candidates down to two and gave Reid the final decision. The final decision was close, but Reid believed Smith would work hard for the council and maintain “what Ward 4 has been accustomed to in responsiveness, effectiveness and communication.” While Smith’s gender was not a factor in her hiring, Reid believes having another woman will help to balance the predominantly male council.

Smith will be sworn in before the next council meeting on Aug. 25 and will take her place on the council that night.

Other council business included:

• An on or off-premises retail beer and table wine license was granted to Seeds Coffee Company, located at 174 Oxmoor Road.
• The council approved the recommendations from Skipper Consulting’s traffic study on Valley Avenue and West Valley Avenue. The study was part of the city’s Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (ATRIP) resurfacing project, and Skipper recommended changing the streets from four lanes to three – one going each direction with a turning lane in the middle. The change is intended to slow down traffic on those roads.
• Mayor Scott McBrayer’s declaration that September is Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month in Homewood. City Hall and some other city buildings will be lit teal throughout the month to help raise awareness.
• Approval of a request to close Brookwood Lane on Sept. 4, 11, 18 and 25 from 1 to 10 p.m. for the Brookwood Live concert series. The Sept. 4 concert will feature Patton James and the Synchromatics, Sept. 11 will be The Connection Band, Sept. 18 will feature Nationwide Coverage and Sept. 25 will be the Nashville Blue Tones.
• Consideration of parking alternatives for congestion on Carr Avenue and Broadway Street. The finance committee recommended installation of traffic islands, sidewalks and decorative lights, as well as restriction of parking on Carr Avenue and the addition of parking on Short Saulter Road. The cost of these improvements was not to exceed $31,000. The first reading of this proposed ordinance needed unanimous consent, but Ward 2 Representative Vance Moody voted against it. The discussion has been carried over to the Aug. 25 meeting.
• Approval to remove bamboo obstructing the right-of-way in the alley behind the Montessori School, 1650 28th Court South.
• The finance committee recommended the city reach a settlement with three homeowners on South Forest Road whose properties were damaged by a wall failure on Griffin Brook. The city will be making repairs to fix the damage and prevent another failure from occurring.
• Referral of proposed amendments to the 2013-2014 budget to the finance committee.
• The finance committee was asked to consider authorizing the mayor to begin a contract with Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus to sell some fire department equipment.
• A proposal to vacate an alley off Kensington Road was referred to the finance committee.
• The mayor may also make an agreement with Verizon for cell phone service. This proposal was referred to the finance committee also.
• The public safety committee was asked to consider granting a restaurant retail liquor license for Oak Hill Bar and Grill, located at 2835 18th St. S.
• Traffic concerns on Valley View Circle and consideration of a four-way stop at the Roseland Drive-East Glenwood Drive intersection were also referred to the public safety committee.