The story so far
A DeKalb County grand jury indicted CEO Burrell Ellis on June 18 on 15 criminal counts, 14 of them felonies. He is accused strong-arming vendors who do work with the county to contribute to his re-election campaign and threatening those who declined.
Gov. Nathan Deal, following the recommendation of a three-member panel, suspended Ellis from office on July 16. Deal then named DeKalb County Commission Presiding Officer Lee May as acting CEO.
May has begun preparing the 2014 budget and 2014 legislative agenda. He plans community meetings starting Aug. 6, with events during National Night Out.
Ellis, who has denied wrongdoing, pleaded not guilty to all charges July 29. His legal team has filed a motion asking all charges be dismissed, which will likely lead to a hearing that has not yet been scheduled.
A question-and-answer session Tuesday designed to let DeKalb County employees get to know interim CEO Lee May turned into a critique of how the county does business.
Several workers questioned DeKalb’s use of vendors at a time when suspended CEO Burrell Ellis is fighting a 15-count indictment that accuses him of trying to strong-arm vendors into donating to his re-election campaign.
Though no one mentioned Ellis by name, employees from several departments said they feel bypassed and held back from advancing, just so private firms can win big contracts.
“We shouldn’t have contractors being paid to do jobs that county workers can do,” David Smith, a foreman in the county’s roads and drainage department, said to applause from the standing-room-only crowd of about 230 people. “It’s costing us money that we can’t afford.”
May avoided one pointed question about how to restore accountability in county government but said afterward that he is investigating complaints. He would not provide details.
“If there is wrongdoing in DeKalb County, those individuals must leave,” May said. “We have to build an environment that is based on integrity.”
How much time May has to take on that work is unclear. Gov. Nathan Deal appointed him to temporarily fill Ellis’ seat on July 16, the day he suspended Ellis from office.
May has repeatedly said he is aware his time in the job will be limited. He is focusing on preparing the 2014 budget, a process that begins next month, and developing a legislative wish list for state lawmakers.
Top on the legislative agenda is a request to change the county’s charter and eliminate the CEO job in DeKalb, the only county in Georgia with an elected executive that runs day-to-day business.
That stand has drawn considerable attention from residents. Employees at the meeting, though, were more focused on policy changes that could take shape within weeks.
Among ideas raised: developing a formal policy on when and how county employees can bid on county work and allowing employees – most of whom have not had a raise in years – an advance chance to buy DeKalb’s surplus cars, office equipment and other gear at auction.
Still, the issue of using outside workers and hiring from outside the county for top-level jobs drew the most attention.
Several workers encouraged May to consider offering in-house training or other professional development so DeKalb can focus more on improving its workforce.
Those issues are on the table for review, May said, despite a previous commitment to look for more outsourcing to private companies as part of the 2014 budget.
“We bring people in from the outside and pay them what they can negotiate, then have us turn around and train them,” said Antwan Harris, an 11-year veteran of the watershed department. “No one should accept that.”
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