'Different Vision' Sought in City Manager

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Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024

Tifton, Georgia

Your Local Digital Newspaper for Tifton and the Greater Tiftarea

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

TIFTON VICE MAYOR

JOSH REYNOLDS

TIFTON COUNCILMAN

MICHAEL FRANKS

TIFTON COUNCILMAN

LESTER CROMER JR.

The three Tifton city councilman pictured above say they presented City Manager Emily S. Beeman with a "proposed release agreement" in order to "move toward a different vision for the future of Tifton." Beeman was placed on administrative leave, but no public vote was taken to do so.

TIFTON COUNCIL SAYS IT SOUGHT 'DIFFERENT VISION' IN A CITY MANAGER

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tifton City Council issued a statement late Tuesday saying it proposed a "release" of then-City Manager Emily S. Beeman "not based on any illegal activity, but on a desire by the majority of the five-member council to move toward a different vision for the future of Tifton."

Beeman was placed on administrative leave July 19 without a public vote of council, a possible violation of Georgia's Open Meetings Act. She resigned last Thursday.

Three council members – Vice Mayor Josh Reynolds, Councilman Michael Franks, and Councilman Lester Cromer Jr. – favored offering Beeman a "proposed release agreement," council's Tuesday statement read.

"Mayor Julie Smith was not a proponent of Beeman’s release, but was supportive of the council’s majority opinion. Councilman M. Jay Hall was opposed to Beeman’s release," according to the statement.

In its statement, council said: "As required by federal law and consistent with the terms of her employment agreement, Beeman had been presented with a proposed release agreement on July 19 and given up to 21 days to consider it."

When contacted Tuesday night, Beeman said that on "July 19, I was placed on administrative leave without reason and was handed a 'Resignation Agreement and Release in Full.' By law, per Mr. (City Attorney Rob) Wilmot, I had 21 days to make a decision to sign or they would terminate me, again with no justification as to why.

"As you know, this was not signed, and I retained an attorney. What was signed was a 'Settlement Agreement and Release in Full.'"

The signed agreement stated that the City of Tifton is paying Beeman as if she had been terminated "without cause."

In its agreement with Beeman, the city stated that it will go beyond what is required and will pay her salary through March 5, 2025, along with reimbursing her insurance costs through that date as well as any accrued vacation. In return, Beeman and the city waived any claims or potential legal action against each other.

City Attorney Rob Wilmot has not responded this week to phone calls and texts from the Tifton Grapevine regarding whether or not a public vote was required to place the city manager on administrative leave.

According to the Georgia Open Meetings Act, City Council may go into a private executive session "when discussing or deliberating upon the appointment, employment, compensation, hiring, disciplinary action or dismissal, or periodic evaluation or rating of a public officer or employee."

But the Open Meeting Act adds that "the vote on any matter covered by this paragraph shall be taken in public and minutes of the meeting as provided in this chapter shall be made available."

David E. Hudson, an Augusta attorney who has argued cases before both the Georgia and U.S. Supreme Courts and is an expert in media law, said that if a city charter gives its city council the authority to place a city manager on leave, then any such action must be undertaken in a vote at a public meeting.

Beeman said she was placed on leave by Vice Mayor Reynolds and Councilman Franks with City Attorney Wilmot present. "They said it was the 'consensus of the council,'" Beeman told the Grapevine.

When asked if there was a public vote on putting the city manager on leave, Reynolds said Tuesday: "What's done is done. Any legality issue, you need to talk to Rob (Wilmot)."

Neither Franks, Cromer, nor City Attorney Wilmot responded to individual queries about a public vote.

At a City Council meeting the following Monday after Beeman was put on leave, no public vote was taken on the issue. When a citizen asked council if Beeman had resigned, Vice Mayor Reynolds said, "As of the moment, she is on administrative leave," although there had been no vote and no public discussion about doing so.

Reynolds conducted that council meeting on July 22 in the absence of the mayor; Councilman M.Jay Hall was also absent.

Mayor Julie B. Smith told the Tifton Grapevine on Tuesday that she was out of town on a planned vacation at the time and wasn't involved in placing the city manager on leave.

"She did a good job for the city, and I wish her all the best," Smith said Tuesday.

About the lack of a public vote on placing Beeman on leave, the mayor noted that she wasn't there and deferred the question to the city attorney.

The Tifton Grapevine has requested all minutes of council meetings between July 15 and Aug. 8, but has not yet received them. Council sometimes goes into executive session following a regular meeting, but it must return to public session afterward to take any formal action.

In a public statement Monday, Beeman said she was not given any reason for the administrative leave.

"The City of Tifton has never provided any basis for the actions of the three council members, and the actions of the City of Tifton are not the result of any poor job performance, any unethical, immoral, or illegal act, or any justifiable reason," Beeman said.

Mayor Smith said Tuesday, "We've got to get through this, and life will go on." She noted that she's saddened there is "a focus on the negative" at the moment and not on the positive things occurring in Tifton.

"The work of the city will go on; there are great projects in the works," Smith said. "I am most proud to serve my community. We all need to move forward."

To read the full City Council statement issued late Tuesday, Click Here.

TIFTON RECEIVES INSURANCE FUNDS FOR SCAM LOSS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The City of Tifton received an insurance payment this week of more than $34,000 for an electronic financial scam that bilked the city government of more than $49,000.

An insurance claim was initially denied but city officials appealed, receiving the funds minus a deductible.

During May, the City of Tifton revealed that it was the victim of a financial scam in which criminals impersonated a legitimate business vendor and received an electronic payment of more than $49,000.

Officials said that cyber criminals broke into a vendor's email system and impersonated the vendor, requesting that a legitimate invoice be paid electronically instead of by check.

"The invoice was paid, and the scam was discovered when the business notified the city they had not received the money," the city said in a statement. "The electronic payment of $49,370.65 had been sent to the scammer’s account instead. Several of the business’s customers, including the City of Tifton, were affected."

The city has since implemented additional security measures involving electronic invoices and payments.

stopthehurtga.org

COPS SEEK PUBLIC'S HELP IN STOPPING BREAK-INS OF VEHICLES IN TIFTON

By FRANK SAYLES JR.

Tifton Grapevine

Tifton city officials are asking residents for help in catching those responsible for a recent rash of car break-ins around the city.

The Tifton Grapevine has learned about more than a dozen such break-ins during the past couple of weeks.

"The Tifton Police Department is actively investigating these crimes, and welcomes any information from the public," the city said on social media. "In addition to calling 911 immediately if anyone sees something specious, residents are encouraged to review their recent home security footage if any of the break-ins happened nearby in case possible suspects can be seen."

Tifton Police Chief Steve Hyman told the Grapevine last week that “every town in Georgia is fighting this, not just Tifton.” He said cameras are not a deterrent. “They just use masks when they see cameras." the police chief said.

Officials are asking residents to be vigilant about protecting their vehicles.

“The thieves seem to be targeting vehicles that have bags and other items laying out in the seats,” said City Councilman M.J. Hall. “Of course, keep your car doors locked, but also keep the interior cleared out as much as possible. It is also a good idea to keep garage door-openers hidden, as those can be taken and used by the criminals to access your home.”

TIFTON'S ISAIAH HELLMAN WINS SO. REGIONAL TENNIS DOUBLES

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

For the first time, a Tifton player has won First Place in the Southern Regional Tennis Tournament, held this past weekend in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Isaiah Hellman of Tifton, paired with Dilen Mohankumer of Atlanta, won the Ten & Under championship In the finals. The boys came back after being down 4-1 in games to win 6-4.

The top qualifying tennis players in five age divisions (10s, 12s, 14s, 16s & 18s) from the Southeast competed in singles and doubles. Top finishers such as Isaiah will now be invited to the nationals.

In the photograph, Isaiah, left, and Dilen, right, stand with the U.S. Tennis Association tournament director for the 2024 Southern Juniors Regionals.

ROTARY CLUB NAMES 2024-25

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Tifton Grapevine Staff Reports

The Rotary Club of Tifton has announced its 2024-25 Board of Directors.

Pictured standing from left are Dr. Tonja Tift, president nominee and club administrator; Liv Henderson, special projects chair; Nancy Bryan, programs chair; Frank Sayles Jr., membership chair; Bonnie Sayles, past president and assistant district governor; Becky Smith, foundation chair; Heather Pye, public image chair; Patricia Brooks, executive secretary; Israel Martinez Franco, district conference chair.

Seated in front are Cindy Evers, president-elect, and Toni Reid, club president. Not pictured is Amy Hightower, treasurer.

TIFTON GRAPEVINE'S CAT OF THE WEEK

"Little Panda Bear" is looking for her new home and hoping it's right around the corner. Come meet her and see other pets available for adoption between 1-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Tift County Animal Shelter on Highway 125 South, or call 229-382-PETS (7387).

18-HOLE GOLF COURSE PLANNED IN TIFTON

~ AUG. 12, 1965

Tifton Country Club members voted on Aug. 12, 1965, to construct an 18-hole golf course as part of Spring Hill Country Club. The site was part of the Jack Wright farm. The golf course was expected to be completed by summer 1966.