Brookhaven aldermen are expected to discuss annexationpossibilities Tuesday and could take an important step in the cityexpansion process, according to the agenda for tomorrow night’smeeting.

City Attorney Joe Fernald, who has been working with annexationattorney Jerry Mills, said the board may endorse an annexationordinance or elect to wait and possibly further revise plans.Representatives from annexation consultant Bridge and Slaughterwere not expected to attend Tuesday’s meeting.

“We’ve revised (plans) four or five times, and we’re now in aposition to decide whether we want it,” Fernald said about theannexation plan.

Fernald said a vote Tuesday would be a procedural first step inthe annexation process. He did not discuss areas that would beproposed for annexation, adding that plans could be changed atlater points in the process.

An ordinance would set up the bounds description of a geographicarea that would be proposed for annexation. Once a proposed area isdetermined, consultants will be better able to define demographics,costs for providing city services to the new area, additionalpersonnel needs and other information, Fernald said.

“Heretofore, we’ve been speculating,” the attorney said.

Aldermen last discussed annexation plans during a specialmeeting, held in executive session, in March. Fernald said theexecutive session was warranted because it involves the city’srequired legal filing in chancery court and the possibility ofopposition.

Residents of the Lakewood Village area south of town andresidents along Field Lark Lane outside the northwestern part oftown have filed petitions expressing their opposition to beingannexed. Also, officials with Wal-Mart Distribution and McLaneSouthern in the industrial park have expressed concerns aboutannexation.

Another factor for aldermen to consider in the annexationdiscussion is the city’s declining population.

According to census totals, the city’s population decline from10,243 in 1990 to 9,861 in 2000. Brookhaven citizens are currentlyrepresented by seven members of the board of aldermen.

However, cities with populations of less than 10,000 are to berepresented by five alderman. Fernald said Brookhaven would need totake steps toward redistricting for the lower number of boardmembers if annexation does not move forward.