---
date: 2024-07-31
title: Ethics Committee Meeting Agenda Packet
source: 2024-07/2024-07-31_Ethics Committee Meeting_Agenda Packet.pdf
pages: 1
---

STOCKBRIDGE ETHICS COMMITTEE
ETHICS COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA
Alicia Barney-Duck - Chair July 31, 2024 6:30 PM
Deron Johnson – Vice-Chair
Karen Charmaine
Angela Jenkins
Vacant – Board Member

STOCKBRIDGE CITY HALL

4640 NORTH HENRY BLVD.

STOCKBRIDGE, GA 30281

Website: www.stockbridgega.org

Phone: 770-389-7900

Fax: 770-389-7912
AGENDA
ETHICS COMMITTEE MEETING
CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE
WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 2024 6:30 PM

I. Call to Order
1. Roll Call
2. Approve Agenda
3. Approve June 25th Meeting Minutes
II. Closed Session – O.C.G.A. § 50-14-3
4. Ethics Complaint 05162024-01 Filed by Councilwoman Yolanda Barber
against Mayor Anthony S. Ford.
III. Adjourn
ETHICS COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
June 25, 2024, 6:30 P.M.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Alicia Barney-Duck - Present Calandra Dallas – Absent

Angela Jenkins - Present Karen Charmaine - Present

Deron Johnson - Present

The meeting was called to order by Committee Member Barney-Duck at 6:41
p.m.
Roll call by Committee Member Barney-Duck. Members present: Barney-Duck,
Jenkins, Johnson, and Charmaine. Members absent: Calandra Dallas
Motion to approve the Agenda made by Committee Member Johnson; seconded
by Committee Member Jenkins. The motion passed unanimously 4-0.
New Business
➢ Accept the resignation of Ms. Calandra Dallas and declare a vacant seat
on the committee.
Committee Member Barney-Duck read the resignation letter dated June 17th,
2024, from Ms. Calandra Dallas.
Committee Member Johnson Motioned to accept Calandra Dallas’s resignation
and to declare a vacant seat on the committee; seconded by Committee Member
Jenkins. The motion passed unanimously 4-0.

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Closed Session - § 50-14-3
Motion to convene the Closed Session under Code § 50-14-3 for discussion of
the following complaints made by Committee Member Jenkins; seconded by
Committee Member Charmaine. The motion passed unanimously 4-0
➢ Ethics Complaint 05162024-01 Filed by Councilmember Yolanda Barber
against Mayor Anthony S. Ford.
Motion to adjourn the Closed Session and reconvene the meeting was made by
Committee Member Jenkins at 7:59 p.m.; seconded by Committee Member
Johnson. The motion passed unanimously 4-0.
Committee Member Barney-Duck noted the Agenda would need to be amended
to add a 5-minute impact statement made by parties present.
Motion to amend the Agenda to add a 5-minute impact statement made by
parties present made by Committee Member Jenkins; seconded by Committee
Member Johnson. The motion passed unanimously 4-0.
Chair Barney-Duck asked the complainant to provide their statement to the
committee.
Councilmember Yolanda Barber provided a verbal statement to the committee
and spoke about the issues she had encountered when asking for the
independent audit, financial report, and engagement letter from Mauldin &
Jenkins. She highlighted her concerns about the delays in obtaining the
independent audit, financial report, and engagement letter despite her multiple
requests and follow-ups. During her statement, Councilmember Barber raised
her concerns about the mayor's responsibility to oversee the delivery process.
She mentioned that she did not receive any help from the mayor in getting the
independent audit, financial report, and engagement letter from Mauldin &
Jenkins.
She detailed the ten-month delay in receiving the requested information and
the steps she had to take, such as filing an open records request and contacting
the Georgia Department of the Attorney General's Office, to finally obtain the
independent audit, financial report, and engagement letter from Mauldin &
Jenkins.

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Councilmember Barber emphasized the importance of transparency in the
city's financial processes and stressed that all council members must have
access to financial information to fulfill their responsibility to the taxpayers.
She expressed her decision not to blindly approve anything without asking for
the necessary information and reiterated her commitment to providing
transparency, accountability, and responsibility with taxpayer dollars. She also
mentioned concerns that were not applicable to this ethics complaint and then
concluded by thanking the committee.
Chair Barney-Duck thanked the complainant for her statement and invited the
respondent to provide their statement to the committee.
Mayor Anthony S. Ford provided a verbal statement to the committee
commenting that he believes the issues brought up by Councilmember Barber
are more procedural than ethical. He expressed confidence in the staff, saying
he does not believe they would intentionally hide anything from any council
member. Additionally, Mayor Anthony S. Ford mentioned that council members
can address their concerns about operating procedures directly to the city
manager, as the staff reports to him. Further citing that there may be a need
to perform an internal assessment if processes are not appropriately handled.
He emphasized that Councilmember Barber's complaint is an internal
procedural matter and questioned why this complaint raised by
Councilmember Baber would be considered an ethics charge. Mayor Anthony
S. Ford included responses to other concerns raised by Councilmember Barber
that did not apply to this ethics complaint and concluded by thanking the
committee.
Chair Barney-Duck thanked the respondent for his statement.
Chair Barney-Duck informed both parties that the ethics committee would take
into advisement all items and verbal statements presented.
Motion to adjourn the meeting made by Committee Member Jenkins at 8:24
p.m.; seconded by Committee Member Charmaine. The motion passed
unanimously 4-0.
Meeting Minutes prepared by: Cassandra Lester, Deputy City Clerk, in the
absence of the appointment of a Secretary.

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