Nicholson councilmember Faye Seagraves said Thursday night that some city funds had been “misused.” But the exact nature of her allegation isn’t clear and currently, there is no city ethics board to deal with the complaint.
“We have a plaque about ethics in city hall, don’t we?” asked Seagraves. “Well, it has been brought to my attention that some funds have been misused.”
City attorney Tricia Leeman said the city does have an ethics plaque and a code of ethics for the council that is through the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA). Leeman said that according to the city’s ordinance, an ethics complaint must be submitted in writing to an ethics committee. However, the City of Nicholson does not have an ethics committee.
The ordinance currently states that the committee must consist of three members, one member appointed by the mayor, one member appointed by the city council and one member (attorney) in good standing with the Georgia Bar Association and all members must reside in the City of Nicholson, Leeman stated.
“And I am not aware of any attorney who resides in the City of Nicholson at this time,” Leeman said.
Leeman recommended that the first step the city needs to take is to amend the ordinance, then appoint the members for the ethics committee and then a formal written complaint can be submitted.
Mayor Ronnie Maxwell said, “This is the best we can do tonight, Faye.”
Leeman said, “The city has now been put on notice there is an oral complaint.”
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