Augusta commissioners speak out against plan to revisit administrator hiring

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – It’s an issue some city leaders are not ready to take up again.

“This very disappointing, and it’s politics on full display,” said Commissioner Jordan Johnson.

Mayor Garnett Johnson is calling for a special meeting on Tuesday for the purpose of hiring a new city administrator, catching city leaders by surprise.

“What that entails? I don’t know. I don’t have the faintest idea what this is relative to,” said Commissioner Tony Lewis.

“The only notification that I received and many of my other colleagues received was an email stating that the mayor had called this meeting,” said Commissioner Johnson.

It’s been seven months since commissioners last attempted to name a permanent administrator, but neither finalist, Interim Administrator Takiyah Douse nor I.T. Director Tameka Allen, were able to get the needed six votes to be named.

“If it died seven months ago, then, I would think we would have to open the process back up. I would think it was closed. It should have been closed. If we’re going to go that route, we need to open it back up again,” said Commissioner Lewis.

Since the last attempt, Mayor Johnson now can vote like the other commissioners instead of only breaking a five-to-five tie. Mayor Johnson favored Allen even though Douse has served as Interim since February of 2022.

“So, if anyone should get this job, it should be our Interim Administrator, who has done a fine job over the past two years,” said Commissioner Johnson.

The issue left commissioners deeply divided last winter, and now it’s heating up again.

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