With an annexation trial less than one month away, Brookhavenofficials Tuesday accepted a revised plan for providing services toareas that are targeted to be taken into the city.

Annexation consultant Mike Slaughter discussed the city’sservices and facilities plan with aldermen during an executivesession last night. The board adopted the plan following theapproximately one-hour closed door discussion called for pendinglitigation and personnel reasons.

Slaughter said the plan breaks down projections on addingpersonnel, estimated costs, a time table for providing services anda financial feasibility analysis. He said the revised plan”fine-tunes” an earlier version, but there were no majorchanges.

The plan will be used to help justify the city’s need to annex.Parties in the annexation case have until Oct. 15 to prepare andsubmit exhibits that will be used during trial, which is scheduledfor Nov. 5.

“We are in the process of completing all those,” Slaugthersaid.

Officials did not want to release a copy of the facilities andservices plan until objectors received a copy. City Attorney JoeFernald said that could be done as early as Friday.

In other action following the closed-door portion of themeeting, aldermen voted 6-1 to promote Capt. Bob Watts to assistantfire chief and fire inspector. Watts, a 33-year veteran, willreplace Moses Bell, who recently retired after more than 25 yearswith the department.

Ward 3 Alderman the Rev. Jerry L. Wilson opposed the motion. Hesuggested the city have two assistant fire chiefs.

“If one can’t endure or hold up, at least we’ve got another onethat can do the job,” Wilson said.

Mayor Bill Godbold suggested the board hold off on naming asecond assistant until after the city’s annexation trial isconcluded. Ward 5 Alderman Tom Smith then offered the motion topromote Watts.

“We need to have somebody in there,” Smith said.