Selma City Council President Cecil Williamson has asked for the city’s attorney to draw up a resolution asking the Alabama Examiners of Public Accounts to audit the municipal court’s books for the last three years.

“If $30,000 is missing from an audit [from Oct. 1, 2008, through Sept. 10, 2009], then I want to know and I think the rest of the council would want to know if more money is missing,” Williamson said.

The request came at the end of the councils Tuesday meeting.

Williamson was referring to a report released Friday by the state examiners, saying three city employees owe about $30,000 for municipal court receipts never deposited.

The employees named in the audit report — Lynecia Steele, Zanetta Irby and Laura Stowers — say they do not owe the money.

In a letter dated Oct. 12 to Mayor George Evans, attorney Brandon J. Wooten of Selma said his clients, Irby and Steele, deny any responsibility for the misappropriated funds and do not intend to pay back the money.

The report states Irby, an assistant tax collector, owes $5,150 and Steele, an accounts clerk at City Hall, owes $14,925.50.

In his letters, Wooten said the chief examiner’s findings “have shown that the accounting practices of the city of Selma are in direct violation of state and local laws and regulation.”

Wooten also states in his letter that his clients were performing the duties outlined in the scope of their employment.

“Because the city of Selma has failed to implement proper policies ensuring precise and accurate accounting, it is our premise that the city is solely liable for its accounting short comings,” Wooten wrote.

Stowers, the chief magistrate in municipal court, wrote Evans a letter, saying she will speak to her “advising attorney” and asked for more time to respond. The report says Stowers owes $9,659.10.

The audit listed 12 findings where the city did not comply with state laws, rules or procedures.

During the council meeting, Evans passed out a sheet of paper to council members that showed how the city had responded to each of the 12 findings.

Further, Evans said each of the women continued to hold their positions with the city.

“Right now, it is up to the attorney general,” Evans said. “The examiner has turned this over to the attorney general.”