The Birmingham region’s water utility board voted Friday to terminate all contracts with its one remaining lobbying firm.
Board members who voted in a 4-2-1 decision to terminate the contracts praised Fine Geddie and Associates’ work while saying the choice to terminate was based on Central Alabama Water’s financial situation and the ability to accomplish lobbying-related goals through other means.
“For me, a lobbyist is a want and not a need,” said Jeff Brumlow, the board member who requested an item terminating the lobbying contracts be added to the agenda. “And looking at ways to save expenses, that’s one of the things we’ve looked at, is all these consultant contracts.”…