The Demorest City Council voted to table consideration of a new security contract with Habersham Medical Center after councilmen Nathan Davis and John Hendrix objected to signing a new contract before two new council members are seated.
The Demorest Police Department has provided security for the hospital for the past three years. The original contract expires on Oct. 31, and the new contract would enable the department to continue to do that.
“I can say that 2020 has really [shown] us the necessity of having this partnership,” said Habersham Medical Center CEO Tyler Williams. “In fact, so much that when a lot of my emergency room staff realized that I was coming here tonight, they said ‘you have to make sure you keep this intergovernmental agreement because we feel safe having the Demorest Police Department there, on-site with us.’”
Demorest City Attorney Joey Homans and Police Chief Robin Krockum reworked the agreement “at the request of councilmembers” to have all the hospital payments funneled through the city. “I’m for it,” Krockum said. “There were some reservations initially, but we got all that worked out.”
Hendrix wasn’t interested in voting on the contract at the Oct. 27 meeting.
“My view is we’re having an election […], and I’m not completely comfortable with all the liability issues [in the contract],” Hendrix said. “[…After the election] a full council can view this, and we’ll have a full council’s opinion to move the city forward.”
Mayor Rick Austin provided clarification for Hendrix’s concerns with an email from Advantage Insurers, who covers the city of Demorest. In the email, Advantage explained that the city has no liability.
“This is a diversion from the executive meeting in August when the Chief [of Police] came to the council and said he didn’t want this, and the city manager agreed,” Hendrix said. Hendrix claimed that at that time, it was the wish of the council to terminate the contract, which the city manager notified the hospital of via email, not in accordance with their agreement and, therefore, invalid. Any valid will of the council has to be taken by vote at a public meeting.
“The proper thing to do would be to terminate the contract,” Hendrix said. “It was the will of the council, and it has been superseded since then, and then a discussion for a new contract can take place.”
Hendrix stated that he “didn’t want to give the wrong impression” that he was against the contract, but he would feel better voting on the contract if the council was full. “I’m not against the proposal; I’m just against the timing,” Hendrix said.
Hendrix and Davis voted in favor of terminating the contract, Councilman Sean Moore and Austin voted against. The measure failed.
Heated exchange
Discussion over the proposed contract became heated, with Hendrix’s personal attorney, Abe Sharony, weighing in on the discussion. Sharony argued that Mayor Rick Austin was not allowed to vote on the matter, directly contradicting City Attorney Joey Homans. Austin did not recognize Sharony’s comment.
“You’re out of order, Mr. Mayor,” Sharony said after Austin did not recognize him. Austin asked Krockum to not allow any more outbursts from “someone directing towards council.”
Davis also expressed liability concerns, saying that he wasn’t against the hospital security contract and that it was “a need, we just have to do it the right way.”
Shortly after, the meeting became heated again shortly as Homans accused Sharony of making false claims about the agreement, claims which Williams and Homans corrected. The council tabled the decision on the contract for early November when the council seats are filled.
Demorest voters will elect two new council members on Nov. 3 to succeed Bruce Harkness and Sean Moore. Harkness left to run for the Habersham County Commission. Moore is moving out of town.
See the full exchange in the video above from the Oct. 27 city council meeting.
