Embattled Forest Park Councilwoman Karen-Brandee Williams was ousted from office Thursday night despite her pleas to consider other remedies, such as censure or reprimand.
Williams’ removal over ethics charges ends an 18-month political stint marked by controversy almost from the start.
Council members hurriedly left the building after voting Williams out of office in a special-called meeting that at times dissolved into chaos. At one point, the council got up and, without voting, went into executive session in the middle of the removal vote.
Earlier in the day, Williams had sought to block the vote in court. Clayton County Superior Court Judge Deborah Benefield denied the injunction, saying Williams could appeal if she was removed from office.
When asked if she would appeal, Williams said in a phone interview after Thursday night's decision, “I’m considering my options.”
The freshman politician rode into office in January 2010 after beating out a favored candidate in a surprise victory. Shortly after taking office, Williams butted heads with the small-town council by asking the city to pay for a chair she could use during council meetings to ease the discomfort she has from fibromyalgia, a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. That request was denied.
Tension grew after a trio of residents accused Williams of violating city charter and ethics rules with two dozen charges ranging from using city money to buying T-shirts for constituents to berating city employees. In May, a hearing officer found ample evidence in 15 of the 25 allegations, prompting the council to take steps to get rid of Williams.
Williams disputed the charges Thursday night that she misused money when she used funds from her ward to buy T-shirts for constituents. She told the council the purchase was approved by city officials.
"At no time was I informed the purchases were unethical," she said. "I have not misappropriated any funds with the city at all."
Forest Park has spent about $12,000 on the ethics abuse case, which has financially drained Williams.
“It’s been a learning experience,” Williams told the council Thursday night. “I truly respect your decision. I do not agree with it.
“I don’t feel this is the best way to move forward on this matter,” she said. “Removal is the most drastic action. Other things could have been done. I'm not a criminal. I've not committed any crime. ”
She implored the council to consider the impact her removal would have on constituents and the additional cost it would mean to the city to replace her.
“Is this good money management?” she asked.
Williams apologized for any misunderstanding but remained steadfast in her approach to the job.
“I ask questions so I can better serve my constituents," she said. "In doing so, I’ve ruffled some feathers. I thought this would be an awesome opportunity to serve my community.”
After Williams spoke, the meeting seemed to dissolve into chaos as council members fumbled over how to deal with various motions and the removal vote itself.
During the initial vote to remove Williams, a roll call was ordered because the verbal vote was so inaudible. At that point, councilwoman Maudie McCord threw the council a curveball when asked how she voted.
“I feel I’m getting pulled into a situation that doesn’t affect my ward,” McCord said. “I’m going to follow the advice of my constituents.”
She stopped short of saying what that advice was, creating further confusion. The council went back around for another tally of the vote and McCord’s answer was still unclear. The proceeding got so confusing that, at one point, the council got up in the middle of the vote to remove Williams and, without voting to do so, went into executive session. City attorney Robert Mack and City Manager John Parker insisted the council did vote to go into executive session.
Twenty minutes later, the council emerged and voted to remove Williams in a vote of 4-1, with Williams being the lone dissenter.
Under section 5.16 in Forest Park’s code of ordinance, removal of an officer “shall be accomplished by ... the vote of five council members after an investigative hearing.”
The meeting ended so abruptly that some of the 30 people sitting in the audience said they were confused about what had happened. City attorney Mack said the entire case has been difficult for the council.
"This is a sad day," Mack said after the meeting.
“The punishment did not fit the accusation,” resident Pamela Lake said. “The council should have used some discretion. We need more people to ask questions. The people who brought the complaint [against Williams] aren’t even in her ward."
Lake isn’t in Williams' Ward 2, but she attended the meeting because, “I just want to see some good leaders and she had potential of being a good leader.”
Williams is the second elected official in Clayton to be removed from office this year. Morrow City Councilman John Lample was ousted in May for allegedly creating a "hostile work environment." A month later, he was indicted on 16 counts of circumventing state laws in building Olde Towne Morrow, a retail facility that now sits empty.
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