Demopolis council abruptly adjourns after five-minute meeting

Demopolis’ City Council conducted what may have been a record brief meeting Thursday evening, approving two special events and changing its Dec. 4 meeting date before abruptly adjourning after roughly five minutes.

The council dispensed with what appeared to be a lengthy agenda, leaving the crowd of approximately 30 citizens and city employees with puzzled expressions. Among those in attendance were a contingent from the city’s public works and horticulture departments, who were on the original agenda to discuss those departments’ pay scale.

Mayor Mike Grayson explained to the city workers and the press that city councilman Charles Jones Jr. had a basketball coaching commitment and was pressed for time. His departure from the meeting, along with the absence of council members Nathan Hardy and Harris Nelson, would have rendered the council without a quorum.

Grayson said he expected all dozen-plus items on Thursday’s agenda to be addressed at the next meeting, which was moved from Thursday, Dec. 4 to Monday, Dec. 8.

Before adjourning, the council approved alcoholic beverage permits for Christmas on the River and the COTR BBQ Cook-Off.