Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2011 12:40:21 GMT -5
valdostadailytimes.com/todays-top-stories/x1253555325/Ethics-complaint-filed-against-Hahira-mayor
HAHIRA — The Hahira Ethics Committee is supposed to be reviewing ethics allegations against Mayor Wayne Bullard of Hahira, but the city is refusing to release a copy of the ethics complaint.
“An ethics complaint has been received by the Hahira Ethics Committee against Mayor Wayne Bullard,” said a letter from attorney for the city of Hahira, Robert A. Plumb, Jr., of Langdale & Vallotton, LLP in response to an open records request made by the Times.
The Times attempted to obtain a copy of the ethics complaint on Dec. 6, 2011 through an open records request. According to Plumb, the documents and records requested by the Times are not subject to disclosure under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72(a)(5) which states that public disclosure is not required.
“Records that consist of confidential evaluations submitted to, or examinations prepared by, a governmental agency and prepared in connection with the appointment or hiring of a public officer or employee; and records consisting of material obtained in investigations related to
the suspension, firing, or investigation of complaints against public officers or employees until ten days after the same has been presented to the agency or an officer for action or the investigation is otherwise concluded or terminated, provided that this paragraph shall not be interpreted to make such investigatory records privileged.,” states O.C.G.A. 50-18-72(a)(5)
Although the law states the city does not have to release any records of an investigation at this time, the complaint received by the city was not “obtained in investigations” and therefore not subject to the above law. However, according to Plumb, they are choosing not to disclose the complaint.
“It is just not subject to disclosure at this time,” said Plumb.
However, when the city of Valdosta faced similar circumstances with former Mayor John Fretti earlier this year, the city cooperated with all of the Times’ open records requests so that the public could remain informed.
Plumb said that though he would not cooperate with the Times request for a copy of the ethics complaint, Bullard would be able to release the complaint on his own.
When contacted, the mayor said, “I can’t do that because they haven’t really had a meeting with me to discuss that.”
Bullard expressed that there are laws to be followed.
“Ya’ll want us to abide by the law so I want ya’ll to abide by the law too,” said Bullard.
The Times is in compliance with the Open Records Law, and first requested the document by phone at the end of October. Plumb and Bullard are choosing to utilize the law to prevent the release of a document submitted by a private citizen to the City of Hahira, not obtained in a private investigation.
Despite a disagreement with the Times, Plumb did state that any hearings on the matter would be subject to the Georgia Open Meetings Act. However, he added that no meetings or hearings on the matter of the ethics complaint have been scheduled at this time.
I wonder if this has anything to do with questionable city contracts such as waste collection and such. I wonder whose relative got a contract instead of the truly lower bidder?
Stay tuned. Hahira is now the target of our efforts. Lakeland seems to be getting their asses on the up and up now.
We are watching, we are many, we are Anonymous.
HAHIRA — The Hahira Ethics Committee is supposed to be reviewing ethics allegations against Mayor Wayne Bullard of Hahira, but the city is refusing to release a copy of the ethics complaint.
“An ethics complaint has been received by the Hahira Ethics Committee against Mayor Wayne Bullard,” said a letter from attorney for the city of Hahira, Robert A. Plumb, Jr., of Langdale & Vallotton, LLP in response to an open records request made by the Times.
The Times attempted to obtain a copy of the ethics complaint on Dec. 6, 2011 through an open records request. According to Plumb, the documents and records requested by the Times are not subject to disclosure under O.C.G.A. 50-18-72(a)(5) which states that public disclosure is not required.
“Records that consist of confidential evaluations submitted to, or examinations prepared by, a governmental agency and prepared in connection with the appointment or hiring of a public officer or employee; and records consisting of material obtained in investigations related to
the suspension, firing, or investigation of complaints against public officers or employees until ten days after the same has been presented to the agency or an officer for action or the investigation is otherwise concluded or terminated, provided that this paragraph shall not be interpreted to make such investigatory records privileged.,” states O.C.G.A. 50-18-72(a)(5)
Although the law states the city does not have to release any records of an investigation at this time, the complaint received by the city was not “obtained in investigations” and therefore not subject to the above law. However, according to Plumb, they are choosing not to disclose the complaint.
“It is just not subject to disclosure at this time,” said Plumb.
However, when the city of Valdosta faced similar circumstances with former Mayor John Fretti earlier this year, the city cooperated with all of the Times’ open records requests so that the public could remain informed.
Plumb said that though he would not cooperate with the Times request for a copy of the ethics complaint, Bullard would be able to release the complaint on his own.
When contacted, the mayor said, “I can’t do that because they haven’t really had a meeting with me to discuss that.”
Bullard expressed that there are laws to be followed.
“Ya’ll want us to abide by the law so I want ya’ll to abide by the law too,” said Bullard.
The Times is in compliance with the Open Records Law, and first requested the document by phone at the end of October. Plumb and Bullard are choosing to utilize the law to prevent the release of a document submitted by a private citizen to the City of Hahira, not obtained in a private investigation.
Despite a disagreement with the Times, Plumb did state that any hearings on the matter would be subject to the Georgia Open Meetings Act. However, he added that no meetings or hearings on the matter of the ethics complaint have been scheduled at this time.
I wonder if this has anything to do with questionable city contracts such as waste collection and such. I wonder whose relative got a contract instead of the truly lower bidder?
Stay tuned. Hahira is now the target of our efforts. Lakeland seems to be getting their asses on the up and up now.
We are watching, we are many, we are Anonymous.