The number of top-level vacancies in Augusta’s city government continues to grow, with the recent resignation of Planning Director Carla Delaney bringing the total to 12. If Housing and Community Development Director Hawthorne Welcher, currently on paid leave, does not return to his role, the number will rise to 13.
Delaney submitted her resignation on April 25, effective May 30. Her departure follows a series of high-level resignations and removals over the past 16 months. In 2024, the Augusta Commission accepted the resignations of Recreation and Parks Director Maurice McDowell, General Counsel Wayne Brown, Finance Director Donna Williams, Procurement Director Geri Sams, Interim Administrator Takiyah Douse and Communications Manager Danielle Hayes. In addition, Chief Information Officer Tameka Allen stepped down to become the city administrator.
This year has seen the resignation of Senior Staff Attorney Sam Meller and now Delaney. Of all the positions, only the recreation director role has been permanently filled, with Tameka Williams replacing McDowell.
“We’ve got more interim folks in our government than we do permanent folks,” said Commissioner Tony Lewis. “You don’t have one person in place in those positions except for the administrator.”
Welcher was placed on paid administrative leave on April 2, pending an internal audit. This followed an Augusta Commission vote to refund $6.5 million in rental assistance funds to the U.S. Treasury because the funds hadn’t been spent properly.
According to Lewis, several resignations, particularly those of Williams, Sams and Douse, were forced by a six-member voting bloc led by Mayor Garnett Johnson. However, Lewis said other resignations, including Delaney’s, were made voluntarily.
Delaney’s resignation letter expresses only appreciation for her colleagues and her time with the city. Commissioner Catherine Smith Rice said she was fond of Delaney, who “resigned on her own.”
Delaney was under some pressure during the week she resigned, however.
On Monday, she, Johnson, Rice and commissioners Stacy Pulliam and Wayne Guilfoyle hosted a residential construction study committee meeting. Builders and their representatives were critical of doing business with the city, although no one openly criticized Delaney.
The next day, Delaney came under fire from Guilfoyle, who said builders were upset about new requirements they use a certain type of pre-treatment for termites during construction, according to correspondence obtained by The Augusta Press. Soon, an area builders association weighed in. Delaney defended her department’s right to require higher-than-minimum standards, adding that implementation of the new requirement had been delayed.
Rice said her constituents, who constantly clamor for improvement, may see the vacancies as progress.
“In order to move the city in a different direction, there has to be change,” she said.
Current vacancies or interim-held positions include:
- Planning Director – Delaney resigns effective May 30.
- Housing and Community Development Director – Welcher is on paid leave; interim director is Shauntia Lewis.
- Senior Staff Attorney – Vacant following Meller’s departure to the District Attorney’s office.
- Finance Director – Held by interim Tim Schroer; search ongoing.
- Procurement Director – Held by interim Darrell White; search ongoing.
- Communications Manager – Vacant; position advertised.
- General Counsel – Held by interim Jim Plunkett.
- Chief Information Officer – Vacant since Allen became administrator.
- Emergency Management Agency Director – Newly created role; position unfilled.
- Central Services Director – Held by interim Ron Lamkin.
- Deputy County Administrator – One of two positions; vacant since 2022; position advertised.
- Risk Management Manager – Held by interim Judy Blackstone; position advertised.
