FAIRFIELD, Alabama -- Mayor Kenneth Coachman said today he wants the Alabama Ethics Commission to look into whether votes by members of the City Council giving themselves and city residents amnesty on

represented a conflict of interest.

"We've got to get to the bottom of this," Coachman said. "How can you do this with no conscience?"

The council voted 4-1 at a called meeting Wednesday night to forgive about $806,000 in delinquent garbage bills owed by about 2,500 residents.

The households of five council members were listed as behind on their garbage bills, including those of Ves Marable, Frederick Scott and Ronald Strothers. All three voted for the amnesty and accounts for Scott and Marable appear to be years in the arrears.

Two others, William Murray and Jerry Yarbrough, owed money but abstained from voting.

Scott, who had the highest household bill at $693, said Thursday he had spoken with officials with the League of Municipalities and felt confident there is no conflict.

"It is not an ethics violation," Scott said. "This is not a situation that involved only the council, it involved 50 percent of the city."

Councilman Primus Mack first raised the issue at the meeting and questioned whether council members should vote on amnesty if they owed money. "I don't think it's fair that you should be able to vote and you owe," Mack said.

Accounts for Mack and council President Eldridge Turner were current.

The monthly garbage bill in Fairfield is $12, but is paid quarterly at $36. There is a $5 late fee.

Marable, who records show owed $472, made the motion for a vote on the amnesty. He said beforehand the council should give residents relief before it decides to increase fees or privatize garbage service. Such a move would encourage them to pay in the future, he said.

Coachman said residents and business have been calling City Hall to complain over the council's action.

"People who have paid are complaining and want to know how the city can give amnesty in the financial shape it is in," Coachman said. "How can you justify this?"