Suit filed against city of Oxford

A lawsuit filed this week against the city of Oxford alleges the city breached a contract it had with an Anniston architectural firm.  City Council members have said the council never approved the contract and that the firm was paid for the work it did.   Court records show that the Anniston firm Dean, Tyler Burns Architecture alleges in the lawsuit, filed Monday, that Oxford hired it in October 2007 to draft plans for the renovation of the Oxford Civic Center. According to the suit, the firm drafted those plans and estimated costs for the work, but on June 25, 2008, Oxford’s attorney told the firm that the contract was terminated because the council had never approved it.  The lawsuit states the firm is asking to be compensated “in an amount to be determined by a struck jury.”   The renovation plans had been debated between council members and the mayor at the time. Council members criticized Mayor Leon Smith for having paid Dean, Tyler Burns $9,000 without the council’s OK for work that other firms were doing for free in hope of winning a contract. The council later voted 3-2 to pay the firm another $6,000 after more debate. Goodwyn Mills and Cawood was hired in 2009 to design the project.