A Meridian native will be the city’s newest attorney following his appointment Tuesday.

Kermit Kendrick, who graduated from Meridian High School in 1985, will be the city’s primary attorney after the city hired Birmingham-based Burr & Forman, LLP.

“I enjoy practicing law. When you’re a city attorney, there’s a myriad of legal issues that confront you every day. No two days are the same. And so I look forward to the challenge of giving good, solid advice so that the mayor and the City Council can effectively move the city forward,” Kendrick said.

Kendrick, employed with Burr & Forman, specializes in consumer finance litigation & compliance, insurance, insurance litigation & coverage, and transportation, according to his company biography.

Kendrick, who also has a degree in accounting, said he had worked with the city  before when the former city attorneys had conflicts of interest and enjoyed the work.

“I feel like I have a good, working knowledge of city government and the mayor-council form of government,” Kendrick said. 

Kendrick said he hoped to have a “fruitful relationship that helps move the city forward.”

“Any advice I give and that I plan to give is in the best interest of the City of Meridian. I don’t work for the mayor (or) council. I work for the City of Meridian,” Kendrick said. “So whatever I’m confronted with, I hope to give advice that is best for the city.”

Kendrick’s appointment comes after Glover, Young, Hammack, Walton & Simmons, PLLC, declined to extend their contract past its June 30 expiration date, describing the unprecented “acrimony, pettines and immaturity” and their hope for change in the city’s dynamics.

Bill Hammack, representing the city at his last meeting, said Kendrick had met with attorneys to discuss current agreements such as the Environmental Protection Agency Consent Decree and familiarized himself with various issues.

“He would be an excellent representative of this city,” Hammack said before the confirmation.

Mayor Percy Bland also highlighted Kendrick’s legal work with the city and commended the Meridian native.

“He’s exactly what we are hoping our kids and youth aspire and grow up to be,” Bland said. 

Kendrick told the council he plans to open a firm for Burr & Forman in Meridian and work in the city Monday through Wednesday, as well as any time the city required his assistance. 

School board appointment

The council also unanimously appointed Sally Gray, formerly of Parents for Public Schools, to the Meridian Public School District Board of Trustees. 

“In that position (with Parents for Public Schools) I worked with parents every day, helping them understand better how their schools work,” Gray said. “I’ve actually done some school board training before (where) I train parents on how school boards work and I’ve trained school board members before on the benefits of community engagement.”

Gray, in her role, said she’d attended many school board meetings across the state in her role with Parents for Public Schools in the last ten years. 

“I see (this) as a huge opportunity. There are some wonderful things going on in our community and I feel that it’s incredibly important for members of our community to understand that these are our kids, Meridian’s kids. These are the young people who are going to be doing our sonograms and representing us in court and surveying our property; working on our vehicles – you name it,” Gray said. “We want them to have the best education and the best opportunities possible.”

George Thomas, a longtime educator and representative for Ward 1, shared his concerns with Gray. 

“We’ve had members who, I don’t think, understood their role on the board (and) I’m glad you’re willing to do it,” Thomas said, saying he wanted teacher retention to improve along with test scores. “I hope you will be a very active school board member… I don’t want to be average. I don’t want to stay the same. I want better; whatever it takes.”

Thomas said he wanted the school board to empower teachers and highlight the positives within the community. 

“I think most of us know that you’re truly vested in public education and passionate about the children,” Kim Houston, of Ward 4, said.

Bland also praised Gray’s appointment.  

“Sally Gray has been instrumental in a lot of policy issues locally and throughout the state,” Bland said. “She’s been very engaged in public school education and I think (Gray and Kendrick) both will bring a lot to the table to help this city.”