The second blowup in 18 months between two Forsyth County commissioners has prompted the county to station a sheriff’s deputy at all future meetings of the governing board through December.
The action comes in the wake of an argument Tuesday during a work session when Commissioner Patrick Bell called Commission Chairman Jim Boff an idiot more than once and muttered what Boff perceived as a threat.
The exchange occurred during a discussion aimed at revamping the county’s rezoning procedure. Bell had sought ways to shorten the time it takes applicants to go through the process as a means of promoting businesses. Boff wanted to keep the current timeline as a protection for property owners.
When Boff became intractable in his position, Bell called him an idiot. Boff told Bell to grow up.
Boff: “Now you know why nobody voted for you.”
Bell: “It doesn’t have anything to do with that.”
Boff: “It does. Nobody wants you in office.”
Bell: “Well, that doesn’t matter.”
Boff: “Yeah, it does matter.”
Bell: “Well, that doesn’t matter. You’re still an idiot.”
Bell, who lost his bid for re-election, leaves office in December.
As the squabble continued amid protests from the other three commissioners, Bell muttered something.
“Did you just say I was going to get knocked in the head in a minute?” Boff inquired, turning to Bell.
“I said you could,” Bell replied.
The incident prompted Boff to direct County Manager Doug Derrer to arrange for security at all future meetings he and Bell attend.
The smoldering animosity creates a curious backdrop for a meeting Friday when the county presents a united front to formally settle two major disputes with the City of Cumming. The agreements cover how to share millions in local sales tax money and establish rates for future water purchases from the city.
Both sides have been meeting in special mediation for two weeks to settle the dispute, which has dragged on since spring. A sheriff’s deputy sat outside the closed talks Wednesday night.
County Manager Doug Derrer said Thursday it was too early to put a price tag on the security staffing because it will depend on how many times the two men are required to sit together.
“I was absolutely embarrassed,” said Commissioner Todd Levent. “It was embarrassing to know they carried the same title of commissioner behaving the way they did.”
This is Bell’s second go-around with Boff. Bell used the same epithet to describe Boff during a work session in April 2011. He later apologized, saying it would never happen again.
Boff said Thursday he thinks the tension is most unfair to county staff who are required to attend the meetings. He said he expects things to calm down in January.
“Patrick is by nature an intimidator,” Boff said. “There has been a history of him coming to my office and yelling at me, and not leaving when he was asked to.”
But Bell denies he’s trying to intimidate anybody.
He admits his relationship with Boff was strained from the start, and it only adds to the tension of the job.
He said he got frustrated Tuesday and only muttered that Boff needed “a bop on the side of the head,” for acting childish.
He called the added security a waste of taxpayer money and a political ploy.
“We just don’t see eye-to-eye,” he said late Thursday. “That’s all there is to it.”
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