Scathing Report Alleges Mayor Violated City Charter

News

MAYOR JAMES GROGANDAWSONVILLE, Ga. – The Dawsonville City Council voted unanimously Monday to begin a process that could lead to the removal of Mayor James Grogan from office following a report that alleges he repeatedly violated the City Code and Charter.

A public hearing has been set for May 15 that could determine the mayor’s fate.

City Manager Bob Bolz said council members requested a city-wide investigation last month to see if anything needed to be “changed, stopped or done” to ensure city officials were in compliance with the charter. The investigation was performed by Gainesville City Attorney Abbott Hayes who reported his findings at Monday’s regular meeting.

Hayes alleged Grogan had been paid for meetings not authorized by City Council, charged alcohol and gasoline to his city-issued credit card, allowed a state representative to pay the lower residential rate for water, sewer and garbage for a business instead of the appropriate commercial rate and that he authorized lower fees for rezoning applications than those set by Council.

In responding to the charges, Grogan said, “I’ve never been so shocked in all my life. I’m disappointed in Council and what they have laid out. A lot of things they have pointed out go back five years and we’ve made a lot of policy changes since then. I didn’t do anything wrong. This is the result of a witch hunt that has been conducted by two city council members against me for the last year and a half.”

Grogan added that he has no intention of resigning. “I’m going to continue to do the job the people elected me to do.”

Hayes report alleges that in 2015, when State Rep. Kevin Tanner complained about paying the higher commercial rate for city water, sewer and garbage on behalf of Tanco Investments, LLC, Grogan unilaterally allowed him to pay the lower residential rate instead.

Between 2013 and 2015, Hayes said, Grogan approved donations to nonprofit organizations, including golf tournaments in which he participated as a player. When the City Attorney pointed out that donations to nonprofit organizations by the City violates the gratuities clause of the Georgia State Constitution the payments stopped.

The City Charter provides for the mayor to be paid a monthly compensation of $2,000 plus $100 “for each specially called city council meeting, work session or other meeting that has been pre-approved by the council. But Hayes alleges that Grogan charged the City for meetings that were not pre-approved by Council.

Finally, Hayes alleges that in Nov. 2014, Grogan instructed city employee Sara Beachem to purchase four bottles of alcohol for him to give as a door prize at a regional government dinner. The report states that the Mayor’s unilateral decision to purchase alcohol for use as a door prize without approval of City Council violated the City Code and Charter.

Section 5.15 of the City Charter provides the mayor shall be subject to removal for any one or more of the following causes: Incompetence, misfeasance or malfeasance in office; Abandonment of office or neglect to perform the duties thereof or Failure for any other cause to perform the duties of office as required by this Charter or by law.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leave a comment

Back to Top