SYLACAUGA, Ala. – The Sylacauga City Council held appointment interviews, a work session, and its regular meeting on Tuesday night, Sept. 1, with much of the meeting’s attention focused on a proposed ordinance aimed at addressing feral dogs along the Hwy 280 business corridor.
The council held an hourlong public hearing on the proposed ordinance, which would establish warnings for people who feed the feral dogs and could impose fines and, for repeat offenders, possible jail time.
Many citizens spoke during the hearing, with most expressing support for both the dogs and the ordinance while also asking the council to make changes before putting it into effect.
Two of the most common requests involved the timing and duration of the ordinance.
Residents asked the council to delay the ordinance’s effective date so it would coincide with the Greater Birmingham Humane Society’s involvement in safely trapping and evaluating the dogs. Others asked that the ordinance include an end date rather than remain permanently in effect.
Following the public hearing, the council considered whether to suspend its rules and immediately vote on the ordinance. Suspending the rules required a unanimous vote.
That vote failed, with council members Laura Barlow Heath and Tim Vincent voting against the motion. As a result, the council did not vote on the ordinance itself, and consideration of the measure will be delayed, presumably until the council’s next meeting.
The council also approved several other items during Tuesday’s meeting.
The council approved a request from Jack’s Food Mart, located at 1194 Talladega Hwy, for licenses covering retail beer for off-premises consumption, retail table wine for off-premises consumption, and tobacco and alternative nicotine products.
The council also approved a settlement paying former City Clerk/Treasurer Alexandria Lambert $180,000 pursuant to a mediation agreement in Talladega County Circuit Court case No. 61-CB-2025900170.00. The settlement stems from a May 29, 2026, order issued by presiding Circuit Judge Woodruff regarding wrongful termination and recorded in Talladega County District Court.
The settlement passed by a 3-2 vote, with council members Greer Wright Bisignani and Laura Barlow Heath voting against it.
The council also set a public hearing for 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20 during its regularly scheduled meeting to consider annexation of the property at 844 Old Sylacauga Hwy.
In addition, the council approved fiscal year 2026 accounts payable invoices totaling $954,403.34.
The next Sylacauga City Council meeting is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16.
