At a work session Monday, the Selma City Council indicated that it would back off of last week’s decision to divert $400,000 annually from the education budget to be used for hiring back the 68 employees laid off last month.

The money was earmarked in 1982 and has been paid quarterly since then with no known end date.

Selma City Schools Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams addressed the council and raised concerns that the withdrawal of those funds would adversely impact the work of the school system and said that she was disappointed in the example local leadership is setting for students.

“We need to all come together and work for the good of this city,” Williams said. “The time is now and our children are watching. Every dollar matters.”

Councilwoman Angela Benjamin said that when Mayor Darrio Melton brought the recommendation that the funds be diverted it was with the intention of finding money that belongs to the city.

Councilman Johnnie Leashore and Councilwoman Jannie Thomas also voiced support for backing off of last week’s decision, as did Councilwoman Susan Youngblood.

“We did not act correctly,” Youngblood said of last week’s vote. “We should have done better.”

“We’re going to do the right thing,” Thomas added.

“The mayor created this problem,” said Councilman Samuel Randolph. “He’s trying to hijack our students.”

While Randolph also voiced concern over removing funds from the school system, he said that tough decisions would have to be made and that the council should assess “junk money” that it is giving to other organizations in the city.

Elsewhere in the meeting, Leashore said that he would bring forth two resolutions in the council’s regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday aimed at helping some of the laid off workers.

The first would call on the council to give up its discretionary, training and travel funds, amounting to more than $80,000, and the second would call on the council to surrender one year’s salary, amounting to over $124,000.

“This is not our money,” Leashore said. “This is the people’s money.”

Randolph took exception with Leashore’s recommendation, calling the move “foolish.” Randolph claimed that the workers should have never been laid off in the first place and that if the council actually wanted to address the problem it would start by addressing the money being used to pay people in defunded positions.

“As long as them people are getting illegal money downstairs, you ain’t getting a dime from me,” Randolph said.

Thomas agreed, as did Councilwoman Miah Jackson who voiced concern over giving the mayor’s office more money to “mismanage.” Further, Jackson added, any vote the council approves runs the risk of being ignored by the mayor’s office.

Jackson added that eight employees could be paid with the funds currently being used to compensate people in two of the defunded positions.

Benjamin brought up concerns regarding the rental of public buildings. People who have reserved space are having their events canceled and their payments not accepted.

Randolph brought up the need to reimburse Benjamin for travel expenses related to a conference she attended in Los Angeles earlier in the year.

Rev. Chris Minter addressed the council regarding putting up Christmas decorations in the city. Minter was told that decorations would not be put up and has rallied community members, as well as local businesses and organizations, to assist in the effort.

“This is our city,” Minter said. “If we could do something as a city, I think that would speak volumes.”

Council members supported the initiative but offered nothing substantive to assist in the effort, noting only that local businesses and storefronts don’t need the council’s approval to decorate for the holidays.

Many of the items on the agenda were not discussed due to Council President Corey Bowie having to leave the meeting early.