SILVERHILL, Ala. — The Silverhill Town Council conducted routine business Monday night at Silverhill Town Hall.

After not meeting Sept. 7 becdause of a lack of a quorum, all members of the Town Council were present at Monday’s meeting.

In one of the few items of unfinished business, the council voted unanimously to change the town’s personnel policy.

Under Section 8.05, the town’s personnel policy states that “any employee with a Town cell phone who uses over the allotted minutes will pay the Town for the minutes used.”

The council voted Monday to add the phrase, “Using cell phones (personal or private) is not allowed while driving (a) Town vehicle.”

The action was taken following a recommendation of the town’s insurance provider.

Under new business, the council voted to approve a contract with the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce for sponsorship of three events, the Chamber’s annual Prayer Breakfast, Academic Banquet and Business After Hours.

Carmen Godfrey with the Silverhill School PTA and first-year Principal Pam Moore were also on hand at Monday’s meeting thanking the council for the placement of a new sign.

Mayor Tim Wilson said material was available, leftover from an Eagle Scout project and he authorized an additional $300 needed to build the sign.

“It means so much more to us than just a new sign,” Godfrey said. “The effort in getting this done so quickly really shows how much the town cares about the school.”

The Silverhill Fire Department also came before the council, presenting awards to Assistant Chief Ken Lewis and Capt. Allen Jerkins for completion of InState Volunteer Emergency Services Training.

Awards were presented to six other firefighters Sept. 7, but Lewis and Jerkins were not present for the meeting. Basic training requires a minimum of 200 hours of training.

“It takes the better part of a year for these volunteers to complete the training,” said volunteer firefighter Lisa Spencer, who presented the awards on behalf of Chief Gary Patrick. “As volunteers, we may only be able to train one night a week, one weekend a month, so it takes a major commitment to complete the training.”

Wilson again thanked the volunteers for their service to the town.

“Volunteer firefighters put in a lot of hours that often times goes unappreciated,” Wilson said. “And we just want to take this opportunity to thank you for what you do.”

Following the conducting of regular agenda items, Council Member Rodney Criswell announced that he would be stepping down from the council as of Oct. 31.

Criswell, a state employee, said because of changes in job policy that requires employees not hold public office, he will be forced to give up his position on the council when those policies take effect at the end of next month.

“Unless something changes between now and then, and it doesn’t look right now as if that is going to happen, I will no longer be able to serve with the town,” Criswell said. “I have really enjoyed my time on the council. We have an excellent council, an excellent mayor and excellent town employees and it has been a pleasure to serve.”

Wilson thanked Criswell for his service to the town. Criswell will remain a resident of Silverhill and said he might be able to serve in an appointed capacity with the town, but whether or not that will conflict with the new job policy is still a subject of debate.

Criswell, who was elected in 2008, is in the middle of his first term on the council. The mayor and council will be charged to appoint a resident to fill the remainder of Criswell’s four-year term on the council, with the next election set for 2012.

In other business Monday, the council:

— Authorized Town Clerk Patricia Bankester to attend an RDS Seminar in Bay Minette Sept. 29 at no cost to the town.

— Tabled authorization for Bankester to attend a certification conference in Orange Beach Nov. 16-19 until Bankester can find out a charge.

— Tabled action on the purchase of an ad for the Central Baldwin Middle School yearbook.

— Considered a measure to purchase an ad in the Baldwin County Fair tab. The action died for lack of a motion.

— Wilson announced the receipt of over $50,000 received from Riviera Utilities for combined electricity and natural gas contracts with the town.