Habersham County Manager to leave at end of the year

Habersham County Manager Alicia Vaughn looks on as commissioner Dustin Mealor moves to accept her amended contract on Sept. 16, 2024.Photo byHabersham County livestream image

In a surprise move, Habersham County Manager Alicia Vaughn is preparing to step down from her job.

At their meeting Monday night, county commissioners announced Vaughn has amended her employment contract. Her last day will be December 27, 2024.

The amended contract is, in effect, a resignation. The Habersham County Commission approved the change unanimously after returning from executive session during the meeting.

According to Commission Chairman Ty Akins, Vaughn will receive a severance package as outlined in her employment contract. However, the commission did not outline the details. Now Habersham filed an open records request to obtain a copy of Vaughn’s amended contract and severance package. The county defers all such requests to the county attorney. As of publication, he had not responded to our request.

“Tonight we approved an amended contract for County Manager Alicia Vaughn. This contract will end on 12-27 of this year.” Akins said after the meeting. “This definitely leaves the county in a tight spot. We have multiple high level projects in the works that she was the lead on,” he said.

After the meeting, Palmer commended Vaughn as county manager. “She has done an excellent job as County Manager and has dealt with a lot of big issues.” He added, “I’m very happy with the job she has done for Habersham County.

Contact by Now Habersham after the meeting Vaughn said, ”I wish to take a moment to express how much I have enjoyed working with the county staff and especially my dedicated team of department heads.”

Vaughn continued, “It’s been a real pleasure meeting the citizens of Habersham County and the friends whose help has made it feel like home to me.”

“I’m proud of what my team has been able to accomplish for the county over the last three years and I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the commission for supporting me during my tenure,” she said.

Akins explained the commission’s immediate focus. “The county will now have to focus on hiring an interim manager so that whoever that is can get up to speed as much as possible as soon as possible,” he said.

Vaughn came to Habersham County from Catoosa County in July of 2021. She was initially appointed interim county manager after Phil Sutton resigned. Six months later, commissioners appointed her to succeed him.

Now Habersham will update this story with details of the severance package once we receive them. Check back here for updates.