Outgoing Councilman James Durry got one last thing accomplished at Monday’s city council meeting, at least for a while

The Selma City Council, at Durry’s request, passed a resolution authorizing $59,000 to build a playground near the East Selma Community Fishpond in Ward 8.

The money comes from a combination of accounts, one from a bond issue and the other from the Alabama Trust Fund. Each of the council members were allocated funds from both accounts to use at their discretion.

The original resolution Durry proposed mandated the funds be transferred to a special project fund for Ward 8 only and appointed Elton Reese, head of the city’s Recreation Department to administer the account.

Selma Mayor James Perkins Jr. and some Council members had objections to the resolution.

“I think its being selfish,” Councilman Sam Randolph said when he heard the proposal. “If I had ($59,000) I’d pave some streets and put some sidewalks and make a better way of life.”

Councilwoman Bennie Ruth Crenshaw believed it was unfair of Durry to use the money and instead believed he should leave it to Janie Venter, the incoming Councilwoman for Ward 8.

“Weren’t those funds delegated to you from the previous council member (in Ward 8)?” Crenshaw said.

Durry said he wasn’t being selfish and defended his decision to use the funds.

“I don’t see anything selfish by providing something for (the) kids,” Durry said. “This is something I’d like to see happen for the kids coming along behind me.”

Perkins objected to the resolution, on the grounds that it infringed on the authority of the mayor’s office by appointing Reese to administer the funds.

Perkins said the council isn’t allowed to engage in the “day-to-day” business of the city.

“If this resolution passes,” Perkins said, “I will veto it.”

Durry assured the council and Perkins that he only chose Reese because of the nature of the project.

“It has nothing to do with showing disrespect for the mayor,” Durry said. “That never entered my mind.”

Councilwoman Rita Sims Franklin defended the resolution.

Franklin pointed out that several outgoing members of the council voted to give their discretionary funds to the Central Alabama Animal Shelter, to use in constructing their new facility.

“(This) is basically the same thing,” she said.

Crenshaw disagreed. She said the animal shelter was different because it didn’t serve just one specific ward.

“That would have an effect on the entire community,” she said.

During the debate, Franklin reworded the resolution and dealt with the issues brought up by the mayor.

The “new” resolution took Elton Reese out of the wording and allowed the city council to administer the funds.

Franklin’s move apparently removed the infringement of powers issue from the resolution.

It still didn’t please everyone on the council.

At the final roll call vote, Crenshaw and Randolph both voted against it with resounding no votes.

After the meeting, incoming Ward 8 Councilwoman Janie Venter said she didn’t support the resolution.

“I think there’s better things (to do) in Ward 8,” she said.