Last Year in January 2009 the City Council voted not to provide
insurance to the City Council as the expense was becoming too
great. According to the minutes, Bo Almond and Jimmy Hamil voted
against the motion to no longer provide insurance coverage to the
council but they were out voted by the rest of the council with a vote
3-2. The insurance for the past Mayor Brad Yates was not included in
the vote.
On January 7, 2010, Councilman Bo Almond submitted a medical bill
he had after his insurance had been cancelled, also a letter of request
wanting the city to pay the bill. Bo Almond claimed "Classic
Discrimination" in the letter addressed to the new Mayor Teresa
Chapman. Mayor Teresa Chapman paid the unauthorized bill even
though Councilman Almond WAS NOT covered on the City's health
insurance plan. Councilman Almond is the only African American
that sits on the council. The four other council members are white.
Councilman Almond claimed discrimination but NO ONE on the
council received the benefits. The definition of discrimination refers
to the treatment taken towards or against a person of a certain group
in consideration based solely on class or category. How Councilman
Almond can claim this as his basis of having his personal medical
bills paid with City funds is beyond comprehension as no other
councilman was covered.
More so, where is the outrage on the council and from the citizens?
This is obviously a misuse of City funds and from our perspective,
illegal. Why aren't people asking the Mayor and Council about this?
At the same time last year the council also voted to cut expenses and
cut down on training that the City provided. They decided to pay for
two trainings a year and if the council wanted to go to other ones,
they would be paid by that individual at their own expense.
Councilman Jimmy Hamil went to a 3rd meeting he did pay himself,
but turned in the bill the following year "this year" and was
reimbursed for it by Mayor Teresa Chapman. This was a direct
violation of what the council had voted to do in 2009. Also, the Mayor
paid this expense without consent or authorization from the current
sitting City Council and to date, this nor Councilman Almond's
reimbursement has come before the City Council. Councilman Ray
Hand also attended extra training at his own expense and he to date
has not been reimbursed as Councilman Hamil has. Speaking with Mr.
Hand, who decided not to seek another term in office, he stated that
he knew he had to pay for the extra training he received as the
council had voted and that he didn't expect to be reimbursed.
Again, where is the outrage at this blatant misuse of City Funds? Can
any City Councilman turn in any bill to the City and get paid for it?
We have links to the right to show different items that pertain to this
submission. We want to keep them honest, and keep the people
who pay the taxes, informed as to know what is going on in their city.
Its your city money so we are letting you decide...
If you would like to get some answers on this here is some contact
information that may assist you:
Franklin City Hall 706-675-6674P.O. Box 250
Franklin, GA 30217
insurance to the City Council as the expense was becoming too
great. According to the minutes, Bo Almond and Jimmy Hamil voted
against the motion to no longer provide insurance coverage to the
council but they were out voted by the rest of the council with a vote
3-2. The insurance for the past Mayor Brad Yates was not included in
the vote.
On January 7, 2010, Councilman Bo Almond submitted a medical bill
he had after his insurance had been cancelled, also a letter of request
wanting the city to pay the bill. Bo Almond claimed "Classic
Discrimination" in the letter addressed to the new Mayor Teresa
Chapman. Mayor Teresa Chapman paid the unauthorized bill even
though Councilman Almond WAS NOT covered on the City's health
insurance plan. Councilman Almond is the only African American
that sits on the council. The four other council members are white.
Councilman Almond claimed discrimination but NO ONE on the
council received the benefits. The definition of discrimination refers
to the treatment taken towards or against a person of a certain group
in consideration based solely on class or category. How Councilman
Almond can claim this as his basis of having his personal medical
bills paid with City funds is beyond comprehension as no other
councilman was covered.
More so, where is the outrage on the council and from the citizens?
This is obviously a misuse of City funds and from our perspective,
illegal. Why aren't people asking the Mayor and Council about this?
At the same time last year the council also voted to cut expenses and
cut down on training that the City provided. They decided to pay for
two trainings a year and if the council wanted to go to other ones,
they would be paid by that individual at their own expense.
Councilman Jimmy Hamil went to a 3rd meeting he did pay himself,
but turned in the bill the following year "this year" and was
reimbursed for it by Mayor Teresa Chapman. This was a direct
violation of what the council had voted to do in 2009. Also, the Mayor
paid this expense without consent or authorization from the current
sitting City Council and to date, this nor Councilman Almond's
reimbursement has come before the City Council. Councilman Ray
Hand also attended extra training at his own expense and he to date
has not been reimbursed as Councilman Hamil has. Speaking with Mr.
Hand, who decided not to seek another term in office, he stated that
he knew he had to pay for the extra training he received as the
council had voted and that he didn't expect to be reimbursed.
Again, where is the outrage at this blatant misuse of City Funds? Can
any City Councilman turn in any bill to the City and get paid for it?
We have links to the right to show different items that pertain to this
submission. We want to keep them honest, and keep the people
who pay the taxes, informed as to know what is going on in their city.
Its your city money so we are letting you decide...
If you would like to get some answers on this here is some contact
information that may assist you:
Franklin City Hall 706-675-6674P.O. Box 250
Franklin, GA 30217
Council Minutes November 6, 2008 – Councilman Jimmy Hamil made a motion to reimburse Councilman
Donald Holcomb for his insurance that he had been paying with the postal Service from which he retired.
The rest of the council was getting theirs paid for by the City. It was passed by majority vote, with
Councilman Bo Almond voting against the motion.
Council Minutes December 4, 2008 – Councilman Jimmy Hamil changed his mind and made a motion to
rescind the previous decision by the council and require Councilman Donald Holcomb to repay the money,
Seconded by Councilman Bo Almond. The motion passed by a majority vote of the council, with Council
Joel Rogers voting against the motion. Councilman Ray Hand stated “He thought that it should be for
everyone or for no one.” Councilman Holcomb made a motion for the city to no longer pay the council’s
insurance effective Jan. 1, 2009. This motion did not include employees or the Mayor. This action taken by
the council included ALL five councilmen, not just Councilman Bo Almond as the minutes show. Claiming
discrimination against him is not valid.
Council Minutes January 8, 2009 – City Attorney Jeff Todd advised the council that the vote to require
Councilman Donald Holcomb to repay the funds authorized by the council in November 2008 was not legal.
Previously, only two councilmen (Bo Almond and Jimmy Hamil) were receiving a cell phone
reimbursement of $50.00 per month. Councilman Joel Rogers stated that by law the City couldn’t
reimburse expenses unless they had receipts or the bills. Councilman Donald Holcomb made a motion to
not pay for the cell phones anymore, for any councilman. The motion passed with Councilman Jimmy
Hamil voting against the motion. Councilman Hand, due to the economy at that time, made a motion to limit
training that the City paid for the council to two per year and any additional training would have to be paid
for by the individual councilman attending the training. The motion passed with Councilman Bo Almond
and Councilman Jimmy Hamil voting against it.
January 7, 2010 – City Check Register obtained under the Open Record Act– Councilman Jimmy Hamil
receives check #30495 in the amount of $569.29 for training he attended in October of 2009. This training
was paid for by him and not reimbursable per the council’s vote on January 8, 2009. Mayor Teresa
Chapman paid him for this training that the City of Franklin was not liable to pay. (see attached bill). The
current City Council did not authorize this expense.
January 7, 2010 – City Check Register obtained under the Open Record Act – Council Bo Almond receives
check #30507 in the amount of $423.78 for a reimbursement for a medical expense he had in June 2009,
AFTER the City no longer provided health insurance to the councilmen. His reason given was “classic
discrimination (see attached letter). The letter states that three councilman agreed that he and Jimmy
Hamil be dropped from the policy. The entire council was dropped not just he and Mr. Hamil. Mayor Teresa
Chapman authorized this payment for medical expenses that the City of Franklin was not liable to pay. The
current City Council did not authorize this expense.
January 7, 2010 – Check Register obtained under the Open Record Act – Cleveland Rutledge of Rutledge
Café receives check #30484 in the amount of $2,145.50 for the catering of a meal for the new Mayor and
City Council on January 1, 2010. This meal was a reception after the newly elected Mayor and Council were
swore in. The City Charter, which is approved by the Georgia General Assembly, states that the City
council will be swore in on “the first regular meeting in January following an election.” The January 1st
meeting was not the regular meeting of the City Council and not sure it was advertised as it should have
been.
The City Council met a total of four times during the month of January 2010, the first month of their term.
Each time the City Council meets they and the Mayor are paid $50.00 per called meeting. These meeting
are to be posted at City Hall and advertised whenever time and publishing deadlines will allow.
Mayor paid $1,000 for the month of January ($100.00 cell phone reimbursement and $900.00 in salary,
including called meetings)
City Council paid total of $2,000 for salary and called meetings
Some of the City Councilmen are being reimbursed $50.00 per month for their cell phones as well.
Councilman Jimmy Hamil has refused to provide copies of his cell phone bill for open records (haven’t
actually made the request but he said in a meeting that he wouldn’t).
Donald Holcomb for his insurance that he had been paying with the postal Service from which he retired.
The rest of the council was getting theirs paid for by the City. It was passed by majority vote, with
Councilman Bo Almond voting against the motion.
Council Minutes December 4, 2008 – Councilman Jimmy Hamil changed his mind and made a motion to
rescind the previous decision by the council and require Councilman Donald Holcomb to repay the money,
Seconded by Councilman Bo Almond. The motion passed by a majority vote of the council, with Council
Joel Rogers voting against the motion. Councilman Ray Hand stated “He thought that it should be for
everyone or for no one.” Councilman Holcomb made a motion for the city to no longer pay the council’s
insurance effective Jan. 1, 2009. This motion did not include employees or the Mayor. This action taken by
the council included ALL five councilmen, not just Councilman Bo Almond as the minutes show. Claiming
discrimination against him is not valid.
Council Minutes January 8, 2009 – City Attorney Jeff Todd advised the council that the vote to require
Councilman Donald Holcomb to repay the funds authorized by the council in November 2008 was not legal.
Previously, only two councilmen (Bo Almond and Jimmy Hamil) were receiving a cell phone
reimbursement of $50.00 per month. Councilman Joel Rogers stated that by law the City couldn’t
reimburse expenses unless they had receipts or the bills. Councilman Donald Holcomb made a motion to
not pay for the cell phones anymore, for any councilman. The motion passed with Councilman Jimmy
Hamil voting against the motion. Councilman Hand, due to the economy at that time, made a motion to limit
training that the City paid for the council to two per year and any additional training would have to be paid
for by the individual councilman attending the training. The motion passed with Councilman Bo Almond
and Councilman Jimmy Hamil voting against it.
January 7, 2010 – City Check Register obtained under the Open Record Act– Councilman Jimmy Hamil
receives check #30495 in the amount of $569.29 for training he attended in October of 2009. This training
was paid for by him and not reimbursable per the council’s vote on January 8, 2009. Mayor Teresa
Chapman paid him for this training that the City of Franklin was not liable to pay. (see attached bill). The
current City Council did not authorize this expense.
January 7, 2010 – City Check Register obtained under the Open Record Act – Council Bo Almond receives
check #30507 in the amount of $423.78 for a reimbursement for a medical expense he had in June 2009,
AFTER the City no longer provided health insurance to the councilmen. His reason given was “classic
discrimination (see attached letter). The letter states that three councilman agreed that he and Jimmy
Hamil be dropped from the policy. The entire council was dropped not just he and Mr. Hamil. Mayor Teresa
Chapman authorized this payment for medical expenses that the City of Franklin was not liable to pay. The
current City Council did not authorize this expense.
January 7, 2010 – Check Register obtained under the Open Record Act – Cleveland Rutledge of Rutledge
Café receives check #30484 in the amount of $2,145.50 for the catering of a meal for the new Mayor and
City Council on January 1, 2010. This meal was a reception after the newly elected Mayor and Council were
swore in. The City Charter, which is approved by the Georgia General Assembly, states that the City
council will be swore in on “the first regular meeting in January following an election.” The January 1st
meeting was not the regular meeting of the City Council and not sure it was advertised as it should have
been.
The City Council met a total of four times during the month of January 2010, the first month of their term.
Each time the City Council meets they and the Mayor are paid $50.00 per called meeting. These meeting
are to be posted at City Hall and advertised whenever time and publishing deadlines will allow.
Mayor paid $1,000 for the month of January ($100.00 cell phone reimbursement and $900.00 in salary,
including called meetings)
City Council paid total of $2,000 for salary and called meetings
Some of the City Councilmen are being reimbursed $50.00 per month for their cell phones as well.
Councilman Jimmy Hamil has refused to provide copies of his cell phone bill for open records (haven’t
actually made the request but he said in a meeting that he wouldn’t).
| Information submitted with this News Information "Public City Records" |
| Minutes and reporting submitted by Brad Yates |
| All Response about this report will be posted at the bottom of this News Break. Send Your Response to newsbreak@charterinternet.com This is information was obtained and verified by public records. See Links Above Our sole intention is to keep those serving you honest. We encourage those mentioned to give a response if this is a error in our reporting. |
| Response from our viewers: |
| I find this information very alarming. It seems that these actions that were taken by the mayor are illegal. How can she pay any type of medical bills for a council member who isn't even covered under the city insurance plan. Also how can this be done without the vote of the city council. How can she reimburse a council member for training that wasn't approved to be paid by the city. It is very clear from the previous council minutes that only two trainings were approved. It is clearly effident that they know what they did was wrong because they waited until the previous mayor left office and submitted these invoices under new mayor. Now to the catered meal at Rutledge Cafe. First of all I would like to know if Rutledge Cafe has a food service permit to sell food? Second of all, how do you justify spending $2145.50 on catered meal for one mayor and five council members. Even if they immediate family members attended with them, I don't see how this is possible. What in the world were they served? This really concerns me as a tax payer. Exactly what is my tax money paying for? This seems to me to be a misuse or abuse of city funds and needs to be thoroughly investigated. - Angie N. I have been present at the City Council meetings for the past 4 years. I am not a resident of the city however I am concerned about some of the insinuations that have been made at the last few Council Meetings concerning the past 4 years administration. There are still THREE members on the present council that were members of the past administration. The council members are the ones that vote and make decisions…NOT THE MAYOR! Some of the present council seems to have forgotten this. When a decision was made I remember that the Mayor only had to vote a couple of times to break a tie. The remainder of the decisions were made by the council. Some of the present council wants to blame someone…they need to blame themselves. A pointing finger always has three pointing back at them. The inert landfill behind the City Shop was not started in the 2006-2010 administration. It has been dumped in for years. Yes even in the present mayor’s prior administration. So stop the blaming and clean your noses and square your shoulders back and accept responsibility. The past will follow you and the truth will come out. Sandi A. |
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