FAIRHOPE — Mayor Tim Kant’s outburst during a June 9 finance committee meeting led several City Council members to believe he is keeping files on them. Some say they have been suspicious of this for a while, and are taking offhand claims made by Kant seriously.

Council Chairman Bob Gentle said, “I’ve thought all along that he did (keep files) because of comments he’s made that he’s keeping something.”

He said Kant has mentioned to him the issue of Councilman Cecil Christenberry not paying his power bill on time, and alluded to Councilwoman Debbie Quinn and her allegedly delinquent property taxes.

Kant also mentioned to Gentle that Councilman Dan Stankoski’s son, an attorney, has handled city lawsuits in the past.

“I have told other council members in passing that I felt I was a little bit paranoid that there was too much knowledge about us personally,” Gentle said.

Quinn said about two years ago Gentle told her that Kant made a statement to him about keeping files on the council members. A couple of weeks after that, she said, she heard the mayor make a “personal derogatory statement” about another council member.

“I said, ‘You must have files on us and he laughed and said ‘I do,’ ’” Quinn added.

After Gentle related his experience to Quinn, she wasn’t ready to laugh it off as a joke.

“He could have meant that in jest, but I didn’t take it in jest,” Quinn said. She added former city workers had also heard similar comments from Kant.

Christenberry said the mayor hasn’t mentioned anything to him, although he’s wondered whether a list existed.

“I’ve always kind of suspected it, but really hadn’t anything to go on and he’s never talked about that whatsoever,” Christenberry said.

Stankoski said the mayor has never mentioned anything like that to him before, and he’s not worried about people checking his background. He said for the 30 years he worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, they did full background and credit checks every five years so he’s used to it.

“Anybody is welcome to look at anything I do,” Stankoski said. “I’ve got nothing to hide. I am transparent.”

Councilman Mike Ford said he has never heard the mayor mention anything about keeping files, and he has never had any indication of it.

“I did ask him point-blank,” Ford said. He said he approached the mayor as a friend, and Kant said he didn’t have any files.

Kant continues to deny he is keeping any type of file on city leaders.

“I’m keeping no files on council members,” Kant said. “I regret the fact that I lost my temper. That’s just not my nature to lose my character.”

In regard to making a comment to Gentle about keeping files, Kant denied that as well. He said he keeps files of correspondence and noted any public files go to the city clerk’s office.

and alluded to Councilwoman Debbie Quinn and her allegedly delinquent property taxes.

Kant also mentioned to Gentle that Councilman Dan Stankoski’s son, an attorney, has handled city lawsuits in the past.

“I have told other council members in passing that I felt I was a little bit paranoid that there was too much knowledge about us personally,” Gentle said.

Quinn said about two years ago Gentle told her that Kant made a statement to him about keeping files on the council members. A couple of weeks after that, she said, she heard the mayor make a “personal derogatory statement” about another council member.

“I said, ‘You must have files on us and he laughed and said ‘I do,’ ’” Quinn added.

After Gentle related his experience to Quinn, she wasn’t ready to laugh it off as a joke.

“He could have meant that in jest, but I didn’t take it in jest,” Quinn said. She added former city workers had also heard similar comments from Kant.

Christenberry said the mayor hasn’t mentioned anything to him, although he’s wondered whether a list existed.

“I’ve always kind of suspected it, but really hadn’t anything to go on and he’s never talked about that whatsoever,” Christenberry said.

Stankoski said the mayor has never mentioned anything like that to him before, and he’s not worried about people checking his background. He said for the 30 years he worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, they did full background and credit checks every five years so he’s used to it.

“Anybody is welcome to look at anything I do,” Stankoski said. “I’ve got nothing to hide. I am transparent.”

Councilman Mike Ford said he has never heard the mayor mention anything about keeping files, and he has never had any indication of it.

“I did ask him point-blank,” Ford said. He said he approached the mayor as a friend, and Kant said he didn’t have any files.

Kant continues to deny he is keeping any type of file on city leaders.

“I’m keeping no files on council members,” Kant said. “I regret the fact that I lost my temper. That’s just not my nature to lose my character.”

In regard to making a comment to Gentle about keeping files, Kant denied that as well. He said he keeps files of correspondence and noted any public files go to the city clerk’s office.