Pelham City Council approves FY2025 audit, arena lighting upgrade and police camera purchases; repealer ordinance gets first reading

The Pelham City Council on March 5 unanimously accepted the FY2025 audited financial statements, approved upgrades for arena lighting at the Pelham Civic Complex and authorized in‑vehicle camera systems for police vehicles, and held the first reading of an ordinance to repeal a municipal code section governing sales and use tax collection procedures.

The council voted to accept the FY2025 audit after the city manager noted the audit presentation by Patrick Bowman and said there were no findings. "There were no findings," the manager told the council during the audit discussion.

Council members next approved a resolution to enter into an agreement to purchase and install new lighting at the main ice arena at the Pelham Civic Complex. The city manager said the Southern Professional Hockey League requires upgraded lighting; some fixtures are under warranty and additional lights will be added to meet league standards.

The council also approved entering a lease/purchase agreement for in‑vehicle camera systems for the Pelham Police Department. The city manager said the purchase is part of a long‑term replacement plan: the city acquired eight police vehicles this year and needs to upgrade camera systems on five vehicles; the purchase was in the adopted budget.

On an ordinance first reading, the council considered proposed repeal of a municipal code section (chapter 5, article 2, section 5‑34.4) that prescribes mandatory, time‑specific collection steps for delinquent sales and use tax. The proposed repeal is described in the ordinance as intended to provide the finance department greater administrative flexibility while preserving the city's authority to enforce tax collection under other provisions of city code and Alabama law. The complete text of ordinance 324‑07 is available at Pelham City Hall and online at pellhamalabama.gov; the ordinance will likely be considered again at a future council meeting.

Council members also approved adding an executive session to the agenda; the council later moved into executive session to discuss legal options for pending or imminent litigation and to discuss real‑property terms under Alabama law. The executive session was attended by the mayor, council, city attorney, city manager, assistant city manager, DPSW director, city clerk/treasurer and the building official, and no minutes were taken.

Mayor Rick Wash presented a proclamation recognizing Assault Awareness Month and invited community support; Mary Catherine Thorne of Safe House of Shelby County told the council the nonprofit handled about 2,000 crisis‑line calls last year, served 147 victims at its shelter and provided services to more than 600 victims and children through community services and a forensic clinic in Pelham.

Next steps: the ordinance repeal is at first reading and will return for future consideration; the executed agreements for lighting and cameras will proceed per procurement and budget processes.