Demorest The Heart ofHabersham City of Demorest Meeting Minutes Demorest. Municipal Building Tuesday, April 17, 2023,6:00P.M.  City Council Special Called Meeting  ATTENDEES  Shawn Allen, Councilman John Hendrix, Councilman Jerry Harkness, Mayor Andrew Ferguson, Councilman  Donnie Bennett, Councilman Mark Musselwhite, City Manager Thomas Mitchell, City Attorney Megan Chastain, City Clerk  The April 17, 2023, Demorest Special Called Meeting was held int the Demorest Municipal Building  located at 125 Ivy Street. AGENDA ITEM 1: INVOCATION Mayor Harkness opened the meeting by leading in prayer. AGENDA ITEM 2: CALL TO ORDER Mayor Harkness called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. AGENDA ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF AGENDA  Mayor Harkness asked if there were changes or additions to be made to the agenda. A motion was made by Councilman Allen to approve the agenda as presented and was seconded by Councilman ACTION: The motion to approve the agenda as presented was unanimously approved (4-0).  Ferguson.  AGENDAI ITEM 4: APPEARANCE AND PUBLIC COMMENT  There were none. There was not ar motion.  AGENDAITEMS 5: CONSIDERATION OF MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION AGENDAI ITEM 6: CONSIDERATION OF CITY MANAGER APPOINTMENT  Mayor Harkness announced that city could now move forward with a City Manager appointment if the council chooses to do sO. The three candidates are Mark Musselwhite, Daniel Magee and. Joseph Hayes. Mayor Harkness called for council's motion. AI motion was made by Councilman Allen to hire Mark Musselwhite as the City Manager and was seconded by Councilman Bennett. Councilman Hendrix stated he cannot vote for Mr. Musselwhite. He said an employee of 27 years has filed a complaint that has  1Page    been investigated. The investigation willl be available for open records in ten days. Councilman Hendrix referenced section 49.1 of the city charter, page 60 oft the handbook (Equal Opportunity Employer and Employee and Public Relations paragraph 3), and page 7 of the handbook (paragraph 1). He confirmed that he would not vote yes and that it was a mismanagement of the city and these actions to cause a key employee of 27 years of service who has worked under 51 previous city managers without anyi issue tor resign is not an acceptable approach to managing this city. Councilman Bennett stated it was hisj job to represent the people that live ini the city limits of Demorest but thati it was also hisj job1 to represent our police and fire department. He wants it to bel known that he has put his phone number out there for every policeman and firemen to put their input into his vote tonight because they are the people that work with the City Manager and ift they have something either positive or negative, he wanted to know for his decision and he did not have a citizen nor employee have anything to say other than positive things. This is a personnel decision not a personal decision. Councilman Hendrix: stated it was his responsibility to uphold the employee handbook andi for us to have a non-toxic safe environment for our  employees.  ACTION: A motion to hire Mark Musselwhite as the City Manager was approved (3-1).  AGENDA ITEM7:A APPEARANCE AND PUBLICCOMMENT AGENDAI ITEM SMOTONTODIOURN/  There was none.  Amotion toadjourn wasr madébyc Counglman Allegand the motion was seconded by Councilman  The meetinga adjourned at 6:13 p.m.  -  o  SEAI)  Demorest City Clerk  E  2/Page