Opinion: A Call for Transparency

Below is a summary of the editorial in the latest edition of the Tifton Grapevine:

The Tifton City Council likely violated the Georgia Open Meetings Act when it placed City Manager Emily S. Beeman on administrative leave without a public vote. The decision appears to have been made during a private executive session, despite state law requiring a public vote on such matters. The council did not publicly acknowledge the action until days later, leading to concerns about transparency and trust in local government. Although the council has the authority to dismiss the city manager, proper procedures were not followed. City Manager Beeman eventually resigned, and the council accepted her resignation. Moving forward, the council expressed its intent to hire a new city manager and improve transparency. The situation is seen as a learning experience for the council members.

From the editorial, a few things are made clear:

• The City of Tifton violated the Open Meetings Act.
• City Attorney Rob Wilmot, who is typically very forthcoming in discussing city government matters, has remained unusually tight-lipped about this entire situation.
• None of the council members will provide further information.
• Emily Beeman wound up with a settlement agreement after first being approached to resign.
• When Beeman refused to resign, she was placed on administrative leave, once again without a public vote.
• Council has the right to terminate the City Manager.

What isn’t clear at this point:

• What is the “vision” that the council members claim they want to pursue for the city?
• What was it about Beeman that made her unable to be part of the “vision”?
• Why did three council members approach Beeman while the mayor was on vacation?

In the editorial, the Tifton Grapevine states the following:

We do not believe that City Council members meant to do anything underhanded. They are not bad people; they are our friends and neighbors who want to do what’s best for Tifton. We hope this a learning experience for them. 

I, for one, don’t share that opinion. The entire situation feels deceptive. I don’t personally know anyone on the council except for the mayor, but I find it peculiar that three council members—all men—decided to approach the city manager, a woman, and ask her to resign without following the proper procedures. They didn’t request her resignation due to any wrongdoing or performance issues, but simply because they have a different “vision” for the city—a vision that apparently doesn’t include Tifton’s first female city manager.

We feel like we have the best person right under this roof. She has a vision for this community; she has a passion and a heart for this organization. – Mayor Julie Smith, February 2023

Acts like these erode trust between our elected officials and the public when that trust is already at an all-time low.

Further Division

Amid all of this, Councilman Lester Cromer Jr. filed a grievance against Mayor Julie Smith. In a press release to Tifton residents, Cromer Jr. stated:

Due to the confidential nature of executive sessions, I cannot divulge specific
details. However, I must stress the gravity of the situation by informing you that I
have filed an official grievance against Mayor Julie Smith. This decision was not
made lightly, but it is necessary to uphold the principles of civility and respect that
we, as a city, are committed to.

The interactions that led to this grievance have raised significant concerns about
the tone and decorum within our city’s leadership. We must maintain a respectful
and constructive environment where all voices—especially those representing
the people—are heard and treated with dignity. Unfortunately, I have
experienced moments where this standard has not been met.

The release mentions a “copy of a token apology text message exchange,” but I haven’t found it included in any of the reports I’ve seen.

As an observer, it strikes me as unusual that three council members approached the city manager about resigning while the mayor was away on vacation. Then, one of those same council members filed a grievance against the mayor. Both the mayor and Councilman M. Jay Hall opposed Beeman’s removal, but only one of them is a woman. I’m not outright claiming this is a case of sexism, but the actions of those involved could certainly raise that question.

Is there a secret agenda among certain members of the City Council of Tifton?

Disclaimer: This article represents the author’s personal opinions and interpretations based on available information. It does not accuse any individual or entity of criminal conduct or wrongdoing. All statements are intended for informational and editorial purposes only and should not be construed as slanderous or defamatory. The author seeks to provide a balanced perspective and encourages readers to consider multiple viewpoints.