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City attorney says municipal court appointment violates city code; council hires part-time clerk and suspends court
Summary
City Attorney Warren Mixon told the Ocilla council that assigning Municipal Court duties to a police secretary violated city code. The council voted to hire a part-time municipal court clerk and to suspend Municipal Court until the position is filled.
Ocilla — City Attorney Warren Mixon told the Ocilla City Council on Oct. 20 that transferring the Municipal Court position to the Police Department would violate the city code and recommended rescinding the appointment of Sharlene Matthews as Municipal Court Clerk.
"We can’t do that because it is in violation of City code. Sharlene can’t perform duties as Secretary for the Police Department and Municipal Court Clerk because according to code there must be a separation of power," Mixon told the council.
Following that recommendation, Mayor Pro Tem Chris Paulk moved to hire a part-time Municipal Court Clerk to bring the city into compliance; Council Member Lemora Moses seconded and the motion passed with Paulk, Moses and Council Member Patrice Manley voting in favor. Paulk then moved to suspend Municipal Court until a clerk is hired; Patrice Manley seconded and the motion likewise passed with the three members present voting yes.
The minutes do not identify who will serve as the interim clerk, the planned recruitment timeline, or whether the rescission of Sharlene Matthews' appointment was formalized as a separate, recorded action. The item was presented as a corrective step after the city attorney’s legal interpretation and the council adopted motions to resolve the staffing conflict.
Next steps: Council approved hiring a part-time clerk and suspended court operations until that hire is complete; the minutes do not list a deadline or personnel assignment for the hiring process.
