Commission Chairman John Eaves said he was trying to fight the perception Fulton County has a dysfunctional government. But the way he went about it got him lambasted and accused of improprieties.
Commissioners said he bucked county policy by hiring a personal media liaison and using a voucher to pay her $2,499.99 -- one cent below the threshold that would land the payment on a report viewed by the board.
Under a 2002 resolution, Fulton commissioners are allowed four full-time employees. Commissioner Emma Darnell charged Eaves violated that, too.
"You're a thief when you send in a voucher for $2,499 to get a fifth employee," she said at Wednesday's commission meeting, after Eaves left early.
Darnell backed off that statement Friday, saying she was just concerned about a culture where the spirit of the rules is trampled on.
Eaves, through his media liaison, declined to comment, but sent a memo to commissioners saying he's "disappointed by the behavior of my colleagues."
He said he hired Phyllis Fraley in December to help "offset the public perception of dysfunction in the way we govern."
"I made a decision to bring on a respected professional who could help with my advocacy efforts during the 2011 legislative session," the memo said. "I am not in violation of any board policies. I have not violated any personnel policies."
The memo did not say why the voucher amount was so close to the limit.
Fraley is now on the payroll as a temporary employee. Eaves said he has three full-time employees and two part-time employees, a variation that the county attorney approved.
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