By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

Fayette County commissioners said Tuesday they think very highly of County Manager Billy Beckett, but they're letting him go because of “philosophical differences.”

“I have the utmost respect for Billy. He's done a lot for this county in the 16 years he's been here,” said commission Chairman Harold Bost. “We wish him well wherever his endeavors may take him,” he added.

Bost declined to give any details of the reasons for the dismissal. “I don't want to say a whole lot more. There were differences of opinion about how different things ought to be done,” he said.

Commissioner Greg Dunn hastened to add, “There was absolutely no misconduct whatsoever on the part of Mr. Beckett.”

Commissioners unanimously terminated Beckett's five-year contract in a called meeting Tuesday afternoon. The contract, which was activated two years ago, provides for payment of a year of severance pay and benefits in the event of his termination.

During the same meeting, the group appointed Chris Cofty, Beckett's assistant, as acting county administrator, and Carol Chandler, secretary to the commissioners, as acting county clerk.

The group discussed Beckett's employment in a closed session following last Thursday's regular commission meeting, and unanimously voted to direct Bost to talk with Beckett about the board's decision to terminate him.

Reporters questioned whether the vote in closed session was in violation of Georgia's Open Meetings Act, but County Attorney Bill McNally said the vote was proper because it was not a vote to terminate Beckett, but to begin negotiating the terms of termination.

“I was given things to take to Billy and back to the board,” said Bost.

Bost met with Beckett Monday morning, and Beckett cleared out of his office by Monday afternoon.

Bost said commissioners have not yet begun discussion of the process of replacing Beckett, but probably will do so at their next meeting, July 5.

Beckett has served as Fayette county manager since 1985, having previously served as county administrator in Franklin County, Va., as county planner and then county administrator in Raleigh County, W. Va., and as a research associate and intern coordinator for a regional planning and development council in West Virginia.

He holds a master of urban affairs degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, among other degrees.