Any person holding such an office or position in the civil service of such municipality when the mayor-council form of government shall be adopted shall continue to hold such office in the civil service under the mayor-council form of government and with the same status, rights, and privileges and subject to the same conditions under such applicable civil service system. Where there is an existing civil service system, then that system shall remain in full force and effect and this articleshall not supersede, modify, or repeal said civil service system.
Ala. Code § 11-44B-14 (1975)