The Selma City Council has approved the signing of a contract enabling the city to move with the Enhanced 911 board to its new communications center. Mayor James Perkins Jr., however, won’t be the one signing that contract.

Council members voted 5 – 0 with one abstention at its special called meeting on Thursday authorizing Selma Police Department Chief Robert Green to sign a contract and purchase orders to facilitate the communications center’s move from 12 Franklin St. to 311 Dallas Ave. Council members Jean Martin, Nancy Sewell, James Durry, Rita Sims Franklin and President George Evans voted in favor. Councilman Sam Randolph abstained.

Council members Bennie Ruth Crenshaw, Glenn Sexton and B.L. Tucker weren’t present.

Later in the meeting the council voted unanimously in favor of an ordinance authorizing Green to facilitate the center’s move.

Perkins, who wasn’t present at Thursday’s meeting, said at the council’s Sept. 8 meeting that he didn’t support the council’s decision to relocate the communications center. &uot;The E911 board has obligated this body to co-sign the loan for the building and I’m not going to sign it,&uot; Perkins said.

According to City Attorney Jimmy Nunn, the contract between the city, county and E911 board puts several obligations on the city including co-signing a loan. Nunn said he had spoken with E911 board attorney Carte Blackwell about the co-sign requirement, but noted that Blackwell said that if the city didn’t co-sign, the contract wouldn’t exist.

Before the vote was taken Green said that if they city didn’t move with the E911 board, a ring down system could be employed. &uot;But we might have something worse than that,&uot; Green added. &uot;A relay.&uot;

Either a ring down or relay would delay the dispatch of emergency services to someone in need. &uot;This isn’t about the mayor, this isn’t about the council,&uot; Green said. &uot;This is about the citizens of Selma.&uot;

After further discussion, the council voted in favor of authorizing Green to facilitate the move.

In other matters the council:

Discussed the 2003-2004 city budget. Evans said the council would have to make cuts to save the city about $2 million.

A tentatively scheduled revenue meeting is set for Monday, Sept. 22, from noon to 3 p.m.