City of Anniston approves preliminary agreement with RMC Board

The Anniston City Council voted Monday to approve a preliminary agreement to resolve its recent legal disputes with the Regional Medical Center Board. The council did not, however, release the terms of the agreement pending coordination with the hospital board.

The council met in a called meeting to vote on the measure after its representatives settled on the tentative agreement with the board through a neutral mediator during the weekend.   City Manager Brian Johnson said the board must also approve the agreement to fully settle the matter. Johnson said the board had met Monday evening to vote on the agreement.

Johnson and Mayor Vaughn Stewart declined to release the exact terms of the agreement until the board has officially approved the terms as well. The council met in executive session to discuss the terms before the vote.

RMC's lawsuit demands a judge reverse the council's October decision to remove Kernion from his seat and appoint Johnson and Anniston resident Paula Watkins to the board. As part of the mediation agreement, however, RMC agreed to dismiss its challenge to Johnson's appointment. Also, a temporary injunction from the court kept Kernion as chairman.