The Augusta Commission replaced the interim city administrator Tuesday and kept on swinging.
After nearly four hours behind closed doors, the commission then terminated the heads of Finance, Procurement and Central Services.
The vote to replace Interim Administrator Takiyah Douse with Chief Information Officer Tameka Allen followed months of discussion. The commission had been at a stalemate until voters gave Mayor Garnett Johnson gained a vote in May.
But the votes to then terminate Douse, Finance Director Donna Williams and Procurement Director Geri Sams came as a surprise to most during what became a nearly four-hour closed session.
“It’s sad day for the city of Augusta, to say the least,” Commissioner Tony Lewis said.
Lewis said he came in Tuesday knowing Johnson had the votes to hire Allen, but was one of some unaware the three others would be terminated.
After they went behind closed doors, “One of my colleagues brought it up,” he said, declining to name the colleague.
MORE: Mayor panel looking at suspending Thomson mayor from office
“I was taken aback by the other personnel issues that we just discussed. I’m really dumbfounded right now,” Lewis said.
The vote was 7-2 to hire Allen, with commissioners Jordan Johnson and Bobby Williams absent. The vote to accept the resignation of Williams passed 8-3, with Jordan Johnson, Bobby Williams and Lewis opposed. Johnson and Williams both came in late and were absent for the vote to hire Allen.
The vote to accept Sams’ resignation passed 7-4, with Jordan Johnson, Stacy Pulliam, Williams and Lewis opposed. The resignation of Douse, who was Central Services director prior to her interim role, plus her severance package passed 7-4 with Catherine Smith McKnight, Garrett, Williams and Lewis opposed.
Commissioner Jordan Johnson, who warned the government would take unwelcome turns with the hiring of Allen, as well as Lewis said the terminations were political. Lewis said the moves went back to the beginning of the mayor’s tenure in 2023 and involved such decisions such as replacing Gold Cross with Central EMS.
MORE: Augusta Commission begins review of Parks and Recreation finalists
Asked to speak to the media, Mayor Garnett Johnson said he had a 4 p.m. appointment.
Jordan Johnson said the notion that Augusta needed a change was disingenuous because Allen has been with the government for 30 years. He attributed the vote to warnings given by Donna Williams and Geri Sams about the mayor’s use of his personal credit card to make mayor’s office expenses.
“They voted to fire the same people that told him he couldn’t use his credit card the way he wanted to use it,” Johnson said. “‘We need a change,’ right. No, that was vindictive. The mayor was pissed because he had to follow the rules.”
The commission recently authorized Williams, Sams and Douse to evaluate an appropriate credit limit for the mayor, who would be required to use a city card rather than his own.
In addition, the commission plans to rehire Williams as a consultant on finance matters, he said. “Just doing dumb stuff,” Johnson said.
McKnight said she too was surprised by the commission’s decision to let three go in one day.
“This is nothing personal. They are all three talented women. For the most part, they’ve done a good job, but we hear from so many people in the city that Augusta is not moving forward,” McKnight said. “It’s time we make some change in this government.”
The three terminated were informed they had six commission votes against them and were given no choice but to resign. Each was placed on immediate leave – other media reported Douse was walked out by marshals – and given vacation leave through Monday.
None will leave empty handed. Williams, an employee since 1979, and Sams, an employee since 1990, were given six months’ salary and benefits. At The Augusta Press’ last request, the two made about $140,000 annually.
Douse, an employee since 2008, was awarded a year’s salary and benefits. She was making around $200,000.
McKnight said her “no” vote on Douse was the result of the compound motion both to accept Douse’s resignation and pay 12 months’ severance. McKnight said she opposed the 12 months’ severance.
