FOLEY, Ala. — Foley City Council approved members for a recently created Fire Code Board of Appeals on Monday. The new Board is a response to Foley Fire Department’s increasing number of existing occupancy and new construction inspections, according to Mayor John Koniar.

The FCBA gives citizens an appeals process where matters of the Fire Code are concerned. As Councilman Wayne Trawick put it, “The (Appeals) Board will interpret the (Fire) Code.”

Appointed to the FCBA, which was established by ordinance last month, are the following:

Seat No. 1, Frank Henning, a fire protection professional, for an initial three-year term.

Seat No. 2, Otis Gatlin, a design professional, for an initial two-year term.

Seat No. 3, David Vosloh, a general business representative, for an initial two-year term.

Seat No. 4, Charles Eubanks, an industrial safety professional, for an initial one-year term.

Seat No. 5, Earl Buchanan, a general contractor, for an initial one-year term.

Steve Bailey and Stan Oman were selected as alternates for Seat #1 and Seat No. 2 respectively for four-year terms.

The appointment resolution that was passed by the council states that FCBA terms shall be renewed in four-year terms.

According to Fire Department statistics, from January 2009 through October 2009, 364 new construction inspections had been conducted and 429 existing occupancy inspections, making a total of 793 total inspections.

In other council business, approval was given for a resolution approving a temporary amendment to the Personnel Policy regarding sick leave for flu-related illnesses during the 2009-2010 influenza season. The mayor said the temporary amendment would encourage those who are sick to stay at home and not return to work before they are well. Councilman Ralph Hellmich said the idea was recommended by the Centers for Disease Control to ensure a healthy city workforce during the flu season.

The mayor said sick leave policy under the temporary amendment would be considered on a “case by case basis.”

The council approved $4,000 for the city employees and retired city employees’ Christmas luncheon. Also, $900 was approved for picnic tables for the Graham Creek Nature Preserve, which will hold a ribbon cutting on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 11 a.m.

The mayor was given approval to execute an agreement with the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce relating to the Chamber’s use of the Foley Civic Center. The contract between the city and chamber relates to the city leasing the Civic Center to the chamber rent free for various events during 2010. In exchange the chamber will provide the city with sponsorship credit and tickets to chamber events.

Approval was given for the Kiwanis Christmas Parade on Dec. 5 at 10 a.m. The parade route is to be the same.

Other resolutions approved Monday included a Wal-Mart Foundation Grant application for funding Heritage Harbor Days (no matching funds required); $22,100 for work by Hutchinson Moore & Rauch for intersection improvements in connection with the Airport Drive extension; accepting street lights in Serene Cove Subdivision; and a $4,700 adjustment savings in the 2009-2010 budget for the Horticulture Department.

The council heard Evans Russell of Cook Road ask about lights in the median along Ala. Highway 59 between county roads 12 and 10. The mayor told him there had been questions about the state allowing that, but city officials have recently been told that the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) has approved the lights.