Ala. Code § 45-35A-54.08
The City of Dothan shall be governed and managed by the board of commissioners provided for herein. Except as otherwise provided herein, each and every officer and employee of the city other than the commissioners shall be selected and employed by the board, or under its direction, and all salaries and wages paid by the city, except as otherwise provided by this part, shall be fixed by the board. The commissioners shall have the authority to create all necessary officers and shall prescribe and may at any time change the power, duties, and titles of all subordinate officers and employees of the city, including the office of city recorder, and all such officers and employees shall hold office and be removable at the pleasure of the board of commissioners, except as otherwise provided herein. It is provided, however, that all salaried officials, except members of the boards and commissioners above mentioned, and the recorder, if any, who are holding office at the time of the adoption of this form of government, under an election, appointment, or other method of selection for a definite term, shall be permitted to serve out such term in the position and with the duties and compensation, and subject to the conditions, restrictions, and regulations which would have existed had there been no change in the government of such city. And it is provided further that any merit system for the governance of its personnel, the jurisdiction, powers, duties, and operation of such merit system shall not be affected by this part, and the merit system shall continue to function as now provided for, as this part is not intended to supersede, modify, or repeal in any manner any legislation, general, local, or special, providing a merit system for the city.
Ala. Code § 45-35A-54.08 (1975)