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Resident alleges audio tampering of Fayette County Development Authority retreat recording
Summary
James Clifton, a resident and former assistant special master, told council his forensic review of recordings from the Kennesaw retreat shows date-stamp anomalies that suggest re-recording or editing; he named the town clerk as potentially scapegoated and urged her to come forward. No response from city staff is recorded in the transcript.
James Clifton of the Fielding Ridge precinct used his public-comment time to present a forensic analysis he said demonstrates anomalies in audio recordings of a Fayette County Development Authority presentation at a Kennesaw retreat. Clifton said the retreat was recorded on an Evident V618 device and that one afternoon session file from Jan. 29, 2026, carries a file-name date stamp showing October 10, 2025; he said the recorder’s internal count shows the files as the 11th recording on the device.
Clifton told council he consulted the device manufacturer, which he said told him an anomaly like the date-shift would only occur if an audio file was re-recorded, altered or edited 10 days later. He said the date a file was allegedly altered falls shortly after he began investigating the retreat audio and after the Fayette County Development Authority contacted him about data-center coverage. Clifton urged the clerk, Martha Barksdale, to ‘get ahead of the accusations’ by coming forward and termed the pattern he described as consistent with efforts to scapegoat lower-ranking employees.
Clifton identified his prior service as an assistant special master investigating corruption on the South Fulton City Council and described coordinated social-media and newspaper efforts he said have targeted his reputation. The transcript records no response from city staff or the clerk during the public-comment period.
Other public-comment themes: Phil Crane, who said he is running for Fayette County Commission, urged the council to host a town hall on the annexation study so residents can learn what is and is not being considered. Kerry Cook of Lakeside Drive raised safety concerns about golf carts and other devices on shared-use paths, reporting that she observed many carts passing without signaling and urging enforcement or camera-based reporting; she also urged caution about stormwater-fee increases and suggested using unrestricted city funds to offset resident costs.
What was not included or resolved: The council did not record any staff reply to Clifton’s allegations during the meeting, and there is no transcript evidence of an official investigation or corroborating technical report presented during the session. Clifton’s claim rests on his descriptions of device metadata and an account of the manufacturer’s statement; the claim remained unresolved in the record.
What happens next: The transcript does not record any immediate staff action in response to the allegation. Councilmembers continued through the agenda without recorded follow-up on Clifton’s statements.
