Are they following the law? It’s a question that still has not been answered.

During the Selma City Council meeting Monday night, Councilwoman Rita Franklin brought a resolution before the council pertaining to the amount that members on the water board are paid on a monthly basis.

According to the resolution, Billy Hicks, chairman of the water board, would continue to be paid $2,125 per month, while Marvin Melton, secretary-treasurer of the board, would continue to be paid $1,625.

Board members Sam Randolph, Benny Tucker and Glenn Sexton, who also serve on the City Council, would continue to be paid $800 a month, according to the resolution.

After Franklin proposed the resolution, heated discussion followed among council members.

Local resident Lee Goodwin said he filed a complaint with the state ethics commission in October 2001, saying that board members salaries were to high.

Goodwin said that according to state law, a city with a population under 23,500 could not have water board members whose salaries exceed a certain amount.

He added that board members had also illegally raised their own salaries.

Goodwin said the ethics commission is expected to make a ruling on the matter in early October.

During the council meeting, Councilwoman Bennie Ruth Crenshaw said she could not agree with a motion that she labeled as something that had been &uot;wrong and illegal for a long time.&uot;

Randolph then immediately entered into the discussion.

Randolph said Hicks and the other board members are being overpaid and that they are &uot;taking money from the citizens of Selma.&uot;

He later told the Times-Journal that he was the only board member who had requested that his salary be reduced. Randolph said he currently receives only $350 a month.

Randolph said that he would give back any money that he had received during his time served on the water board that was determined to be in excess of what is allowed by state law prior to when the ethics complaint was filed.

Crenshaw also accused Councilwoman Nancy Sewell, who was a former water board member, of also receiving an illegal salary.

Sewell, visibly upset, then banged her fist on the table, saying that she had not done anything that was &uot;intentionally criminal.&uot;

Council President George Evans then recommended that the motion be tabled until further investigation was done into the &uot;legality of the matter.&uot;

Selma Mayor James Perkins echoed Evan’s recommendation.

Council members agreed to table the motion.

In other business: