City employees cited for wrongdoing

By Michael Butler

The Tallassee City Council has issued a resolution citing several city personnel for alleged wrongdoing. All seven council members signed the document.

In addition, a memo on workplace behavior was introduced at the Nov. 9 city council meeting.

"The purpose of this memorandum is to remind all city officials and employees on what is and what is not acceptable behavior in the workplace," said councilman and mayor pro tempore Bill Godwin, who was presiding over the meeting.

The resolution addressed misconduct allegations. Six different city personnel were cited on eight different items. Tallassee Mayor Johnny Hammock was cited on multiple items including: harrassment or harrassing communications; requiring city employees work on or participate in non-city projects during regular work hours; purchasing equipment, goods and services without the approval of the council.

"Now that this motion has been approved," Godwin stated, "I'd like to ask that Mr. (John) Smith, the city attorney, immediately take the necessary steps to process this resolution to the appropriate law enforcement agency or agencies for action as being necessary."

Here is a list of all allegations:

a. Harrassment or harrassing communications directed to City of Tallassee employees and officials by, among others, the Mayor of Tallassee, the former Building Inspector for the City of Tallassee and the Tallassee Police Chief;

b. The requirement by the Mayor of Tallassee or its former Building Inspector that employees of the City of Tallassee work on or participate in businesses or projects that were not part of the operations of the City of Tallassee during regular work hours of the City of Tallassee;

c. The alteration of a medical record by the Tallasseee City Clerk;

d. The alteration of purchase orders by the City Clerk and the City's Accounts Payable/Payroll Clerk;

e. Purchase of equipment, goods and services by the Mayor without the approval of the Tallassee City Council to include but not be limited to (1) the purchase of a motor vehicle; (2) expenses related to the Mayor's campaign for the Alabama Public Service Commission; (3) payment to a business owned or controlled by the former Building Inspector for tree and shrubbery cutting and debris removal; and (4) seeking and receiving reimbursement from the City of Tallassee for certain expenses unrelated to City business or operations;

f. Attempts by the Mayor's assistant to interfere in or impede the investigation of complaints against the Mayor;

g. Purchase of certain supplies and goods at the City's expense by the City Clerk and the City's Accounts Payable/Payroll Clerk without the approval of the Mayor or other appropriate City official; and

h. Misuse of leave time and inappropriate accrual of leave time by the City Clerk and the City's Accounts Payable/Payroll Clerk