When Demorest Mayor Rick Austin asked City Manager Kim Simonds last night to resign, she said she would give him her answer today.
Shortly before 3 p.m., Austin says he received an email from Simonds and she refused to step down.
“I decline your request that I resign as City Manager. It really is my hope that we can move forward and get the real work of the city accomplished,” the email states.
Austin asked Simonds to resign at the end of a contentious public meeting Tuesday night that focused on her handling of former Chief Robin Krockum’s firing and the subsequent hiring of Greg Ellingson to replace him. In the weeks following Krockum’s firing on April 16, it was revealed Simonds took those actions with the full knowledge and support of Councilmen Nathan Davis and John Hendrix. Mayor Austin and Councilman Sean Moore were not included in conversations about firing Krockum. They also were excluded from the decision to hire Ellingson – a move that was outside the bounds of the city charter.
Austin says those actions and Davis’ admission that Simonds met secretly with him and Hendrix and hired outside counsel for the city on their own, eroded his trust.
“I asked for her resignation because I believe her ability to perform the duties of city manager and to lead our city has been irreparably harmed. I still believe that to be the case,” Austin tells Now Habersham.
Now Habersham reached out to Simonds by email. She was not immediately available for comment.
The mayor says he stands by his request and expects the city council will discuss the matter during its called meeting on Tuesday, May 12. That meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Demorest Municipal Building at 125 Ivy Street. Now Habersham will stream the Demorest City Council meeting live on our Facebook page and here on nowhabersham.com.
To submit questions or comments to city officials prior to and during the meeting, follow the procedures outlined in the notice below.
RELATED
Demorest councilman confesses to unauthorized meetings, actions
This article has been updated with additional information
