Public ire continues to burn just days after the Birmingham Water Works Board approved a new policy that restricts customer engagement with them.

Rules unanimously approved Wednesday cut the public’s ability to speak to two minutes, down from the previous three minutes.

“That was a cowardice move,” said Gary Richardson, host of the Gary Richardson Morning Show on WJLD radio. “You shouldn’t be on the board if you don’t want to hear what people have to say. You shouldn’t be on the board if you can’t take criticism and complaints.”

Richardson is also mayor of the city of Midfield and is a customer of the Birmingham Water Works.

Discussion of the new rules and their implications dominated the long-running Birmingham political talk radio show this morning.

Additionally, the policy requires speakers to make a written request to speak to the board within 24 hours after meeting agendas are approved.

Several callers, including Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson, expressed their frustration and vowed to protest the policy.

“No matter who they put on there, it seems they interview one way and then they get on there and they do another,” Tyson said.

Water Works officials said this week that they imposed the new rules in response to abuse of the previous system.

“Unfortunately, this time has more recently been misused by individuals with other agendas, and the speakers’ time is no longer serving its intended purpose,” the agency said in a statement to AL.com. “The public comment period during board meetings is very rarely an avenue for these resolutions, and our team continues to identify ways to best engage with our customers while ensuring that the meetings are efficient.”

Still, that explanation did little to quell critics.

“It certainly gives the impression they are trying to dodge and trying to hide something,” Richarson said. “They just go along to get along and they’re just so happy to get that damn check every month – just a useless person sitting on a damn seat.”

The utility’s board members are paid a stipend of $1,000 a month.

The new restrictions unleashed a torrent of criticism and recollections of past political and customer service controversies involving the water works.

Richardson recalled the legal wrangle that resulted in the transfer of water works’ assets from the city to create an independent entity.

“What they did to Birmingham was wrong,” Richardson said, lamenting the loss of Birmingham’s total control over the utility.

While the Birmingham city council and mayor appoint the majority of members, other entities outside the city now have appointing authority to the board.

Some callers accused the board of dismissing the needs of the customers, some of whom are hard-pressed to pay their utility bills. Others described their own consumer problems with billing.

“It’s a disgrace,” Olivia Thompson of Birmingham said during a call. “These folks have no sympathy for Birmingham, and they get them and put them on the board, no matter what.”

Tyson noted an elderly Birmingham resident who recently received a $10,000 water bill. The woman has contacted customer service but has yet to find a resolution.

Taking away her ability to directly address the board further limits customers with already limited options, Tyson said.

“Where is your customer service?” Tyson said. “All of us that’s on Birmingham Water should have the right to go there to complain,” Tyson said. “The citizens should be in an uproar.”