Ala. Code § 11-43-3: Election, Etc., of Treasurer, Clerk, Etc., in Cities Having More Than 6,000 Inhabitants; Consolidation or Abolishment of Offices.

(a) In cities having a population of more than 6,000, there shall be elected by the council, at its first regular meeting or as soon thereafter as practicable, a city treasurer and a city clerk, who shall hold office until the next general election and until their successors are elected and qualified, and such council may elect an auditor, and any officers whose election is required by ordinance, and, except as otherwise provided, the council shall have authority to fix the terms of office, prescribe their duties, and fix the salaries of the officers. The council may, by ordinance, require the city treasurer and the city clerk to be residents of the city. Except as provided in subsection (b), the council, by a two-thirds vote of the members elected, by and with the consent of the mayor, may consolidate two or more of the offices and may abolish any of the offices; provided, that the term of office of no incumbent shall be diminished.

(b) The consent of the mayor is not necessary to consolidate or abolish offices pursuant to subsection (a) if the mayor is operating pursuant to Section 11-43-2 as it relates to the legislative functions of the mayor in cities and towns having a population of 12,000 or more but less than 25,000 inhabitants according to the most recent or any subsequent federal decennial census.