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Update:Anniston councilman Ben Little arrested for violating council-manager act

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Another Anniston city council member is arrested, this time for violating the city's council-manager act. Council Member Ben Little was arrested Monday just after noon inside Anniston City Hall, by two Calhoun County Sheriff's Investigators, and taken to the county jail. He was later released on bond. Anniston police Lt. Allen George says the arrest came after Little allegedly ordered city workers to turn over surveillance video of the city shop on McClellan Boulevard, where some utility trailers had been reported stolen.

The council-manager act says the mayor and council are only allowed to make policy, but can make requests of the city manager. However, none of the council members or mayor have the authority to give direct orders to city employees or their department heads. The one and only punishment in the misdemeanor law, is removal from office upon conviction. Little says all of his remarks came during the council meeting and were directed at the city manager, which is permissible. "Didn't call anyone's name, didn't address any employees to interfere in any kind of way. But I went to the city manager with it. And I made it know publicly at the council meeting," Little told reporters outside the county jail in Anniston. "I think that's my duty, that's my responsibility." But George says the comments in question came after the council meeting and involved several instances over a couple of days. He says more charges could be coming. "We shall not be intimidated by what's going on," Little added. "We have a duty to carry out. And we shall execute that duty, God being our help to the best of our ability." Little was arrested in December over building code violations, involving houses that belonged to the church he pastors, Full Refuge Gospel Methodist Church. The charges were later dropped, and Little and the church have pending legal claims against the city.

Council member John Spain was also arrested on the same act, for giving orders to an Anniston Police Captain. That charge, along with his pending appeal for assaulting mayor Gene Robinson, was dropped when Spain resigned from office. Little's court date is September 4 at 8:30 a.m. in Calhoun County District Court. However, Anniston's voters in Ward 3 will get to weigh in first. The city's elections are August 28, and Little faces opposition from Seyram Selase, the Vice-Chairman of Anniston's Public Building Authority.

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Keywords: Anniston, Ben Little, City Councilman, council-manager act, arrested,

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