Barnesville council votes to remove city manager after public hearing on missed grants and reporting

A divided Barnesville City Council voted 3–2 on June 3, 2024, to remove City Manager Timothy T. Turner after a public hearing that included testimony from city staff and residents alleging missed grant deadlines and compliance lapses.

City Attorney David Penland, representing the Council, told the hearing that the city had suffered or was at risk of losing major funding because of managerial failures, including a $1 million Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application and potential loss of roughly $2.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) obligations tied to an easement. "This is not about him personally, but this is about his action and inactions as City Manager," Penland said during opening statements.

Former Community Development Director Niki Sappington, who had led multiple CDBG efforts for Barnesville, testified the city’s Comprehensive Plan work program was incomplete and that she had to supply materials after repeated attempts to get responses from the city manager. Chief Finance Officer Tammy D. York and City Clerk Tammy T. Folson also testified about missed filings and record-handling concerns. Folson said staff records had been moved without notice and described instances where document custody created confusion.

Turner addressed the chamber, saying he had "worked tirelessly" for the city and acknowledged mistakes but disputed that removal was warranted. Many residents—several of whom asked to speak—expressed support for Turner and urged the council to consider remedies short of termination; speakers donated portions of their allotted time to him.

After a brief recess and final remarks, the council took a roll-call vote. The motion to remove Turner carried 3–2. Those voting in favor cited the need to protect grants, ensure timely state reporting and restore public confidence; dissenting council members said Turner’s record included accomplishments and that deficiencies could have been addressed differently.

The council’s personnel action followed a prior temporary suspension earlier in May. On May 14 the council had appointed Tammy D. York as Acting City Manager; the appointment was later followed by a vote to make York the permanent city manager in October.

Next steps: the council recorded a formal resolution documenting compliance with Georgia’s Open Meetings Act and directed staff and counsel to complete administrative follow-ups. The city did not announce an appeal or subsequent administrative hearing record in the council minutes.

— Reporting in this article is based on testimony and motions presented at the June 3 public hearing and related council minutes and resolutions.