State Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, unloaded a heap of criticism on the Birmingham Water Works Board during its meeting Thursday, vowing to "do everything I can to destroy this board."

The state legislator accused the board of not complying with Robert's Rules of Order when a motion was made to move board meetings from the board room back to the basement, which can hold more people. Rogers also criticized the board for using a blue barricade to separate themselves from the public.

"I see y'all got the Trump wall out here," Rogers said.

When the board went into executive session, the lawmaker criticized the beefed-up security at board meetings, apparently in response to frustrated residents who tear into the board and water works general manager Mac Underwood during public speaking time.

"You got thousands of officers down here," he said. "I thought it was World War II; I thought I was back in Germany."

He claimed the board was not putting in its best effort to award contracts to minority-owned businesses. He added the board doesn't have to go with the lowest bid on contracts, and that his colleagues in Montgomery don't operate like that.

"I'm shocked that y'all are so far behind, it bothers me to no end to sit out here," the Birmingham lawmaker said. "I am shocked and disturbed by what I've seen today. ...You ought to have some deference to certain companies."

Rogers said he would be research ways to reform the board, including reverting the body back to a five-member board comprised of Birmingham residents. Under a state law that took effect in January, the board expanded to nine members, including four from the suburbs. That law diluted Birmingham's influence on the water works board.

"They have no rules or order. Everyone needs to be put down like a rabid dog," Rogers said of the board. "You cannot deny Robert's Rules of Order and run over people."

Roger's colleague, state Rep. Rolanda Hollis, D-Birmingham, also attended the meeting and said she was "saddened" over how the public was being treated.

"Our people are being disrespected and it really saddens me," Hollis said, adding that a resident signed up to speak but was prevented from doing so.

Hollis also said the water works should give customers the option of receiving refunds instead of credits on their overcharged water bills.

"If they want their money back, they should be paid," she said.