Birmingham residents will have an opportunity to voice their opinions about proposed changes to the Mayor-Council Act during a public meeting Thursday.

The Mayor-Council Act of 1955 was adopted through a referendum to establish a different form of city governance during a time of upheaval.

Two weeks ago, council members learned that Mayor William Bell had submitted to state legislators, including Rep. Oliver Robinson, suggested changes to the Mayor-Council Act adopted in 1962.

The suggestions include making the mayor, not the council, responsible for appointments to the Birmingham Water Works Board and requiring the council to elect new leadership annually.

The proposals to transfer power from the Birmingham City Council to the mayor would upset checks and balances while giving the mayor a dangerous amount of authority, Council President Johnathan Austin said last week.

A meeting will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. in council chambers at Birmingham City Hall. Any member of the public who wishes to speak for or against the changes is welcome to attend.

For more information about what will be discussed, residents can call 205-254-2294.

During the public comment portion of Tuesday's city council meeting, several residents spoke about the proposed changes.

Brenda Dickerson, president of the Citizens' Coalition for a Better Birmingham, spoke on behalf of her group and was joined by a handful of others at the podium.

"We believe that proposed amendments to the Mayor-Council Act will harm our city government and the city of Birmingham in that it will destroy the system of checks and balances," she said.

Dickerson requested a response by March 22.

Another resident who spoke during Tuesday's meeting told the council that, though she may not agree with them all the time, she believes the act does not need to be rewritten.

Also last week, Dickerson and members of several citizens' groups traveled to Montgomery to tell legislators that they oppose the proposals.