Helena Mayor Ryan Puckett said Tuesday he is the target of an Alabama Ethics Commission investigation into the awarding of thousands of dollars of grant money to teachers of a private school in the city where Puckett is a board member.

Puckett earlier claimed to AL.com that he recused himself from voting on grant applications for The Hillsboro School, describing himself as an “inactive” trustee. The Montessori schools’ website lists him as one of five board members.

The mayor is a member of a three-person committee that doles out grants to schools along with Helena City Council President Alice Lobell and city library director Daniel Dearing.

The Teacher’s Assistant Grants funding was awarded in April and was initially reported as $500, but was actually $7,076.67, the city posted on its Facebook page. The post, which did not explain the discrepancy, also said three teachers at the school were awarded $11,144.27 in November.

The Hillsboro School returned the funds amid public backlash of public money going to private school teachers.

At a city council meeting Tuesday, Puckett claimed there was no conflict of interest as some residents called on him to resign as mayor.

“Did I receive anything of financial gain or any type of benefits for this money going to these teachers? No, I did not. Do I have a child or have children that are at the school—because that was mentioned that I do? I do not,” Puckett said at Tuesday’s city council meeting, according to the Shelby County Reporter. “I served in a volunteer, non-paid role as a volunteer on the Board of Directors for the Hillsboro School. An inactive member, now.”

The city council said it would reevaluate how the grant money is distributed in light of the controversy.