Architect Longe resigns from architect board

Following his wife, Therese Longe, becoming a city commissioner in November, Birmingham architect Chris Longe has resigned from the city's architectural review committee. Longe had served on the committee for 15 years, after first being appointed in May of 2004. His term runs through April 2022, after being reappointed in April 2019. However, as part of the Birmingham city charter, there is a nepotism section, which prevents spouses or family members of commissioners or the city manager from holding any position in the city, or from being employed in the city. Section 21 of the city charter reads: “Relatives by blood or marriage of the mayor, any commissioner or the manager, within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity, are hereby disqualified from holding any appointive office or from being employed by the city, during the term for which such mayor or commissioner was elected, or during the tenure of office of such manager.” Four years ago, former commissioners Patty Bordman and Carroll DeWeese's spouses each resigned from boards they had served on when they took office. City manager Joe Valentine said requests for applicants to finish Longe's term of office will be made at the city commission meeting on Monday, December 16.