By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The Alabaster City Council will follow a different meeting schedule than normal during the month of December to avoid meeting in the middle of the Christmas-New Year’s Day holidays.

During its Nov. 9 meeting, the council voted 6-1 to change its meetings to the first and third Mondays in December, which is a departure from the council’s normal meeting schedule of the second and fourth Mondays.

As a result, the council will meet on Dec. 7 and Dec. 21 before returning to the second and fourth Mondays in January 2016.

All Alabaster council meetings begin at 7 p.m. at Alabaster City Hall at 1953 Municipal Way.

The vote came after some debate on the matter during a Nov. 5 City Council work session.

During the work session, Ward 4 Councilman Rick Walters, who voted against the change, said he was not in favor of modifying the meeting schedule, and said the regular council meeting schedule is in effect to allow city residents to know when meetings will be held.

“That schedule is in place so the public knows the date and time their City Council does business,” Walters said.

City Council President Scott Brakefield said the move was to prevent the council from meeting on the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

“We would have a meeting on the 28^th, and a lot of people travel then,” Brakefield said. “This would get us through the holidays without having a meeting, so I’m fine with changing it.”

Ward 2 Councilman Bob Hicks said voting to change the meeting schedule in November gave residents adequate notice about the schedule change.

“Those who want to be informed and involved will be aware of it,” Hicks said. “I don’t like changing meetings, I don’t. But I think that gives us a lot of time to give notice.”