PTC council to convene workshop to discuss services of city clerk

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

The Peachtree City Council will hold a workshop Monday night at 6 p.m. at the city's library to discuss the scope of services needed from the city clerk's position.

Peachtree City Manager Jim Basinger remains the city's official clerk since council voted last week to extend his original three-month appointment. Council extended Basinger's tenure as clerk up to June 30, operating on the idea that the issue may be resolved before then.

The extension came at a special called council meeting last week after Councilwoman Annie McMenamin suggested a workshop would be an ideal format for council to discuss the matter.

"We just need to sit down and throw out some ideas," McMenamin said, adding that council needed to focus on what it wants the clerk's duties and responsibilities to entail.

The clerk's role in the city's government structure came into question earlier this year during discussions about changing the city charter. In January, Basinger was appointed temporary clerk over then-clerk Nancy Faulkner.

After these developments, it was revealed in city documents that officials wanted to appoint Basinger as clerk to enable the possible firing of Faulkner. According to Basinger's handwritten notes, he, McMenamin and Mayor Bob Lenox agreed in October to take action "up to and including termination after Nancy is not re-appointed."

The notes indicated that Faulkner deserved to be reprimanded for allegedly lying in a deposition about allegedly sexual-related comments Councilman Dan Tennant made to her one day. Also, the notes said the reprimand was necessary since Faulkner supposedly asked McMenamin to lie for her about Faulkner reviewing McMenamin's copy of the city's pay plan study.

With her resignation March 9, Faulkner got a package worth over $30,000, the majority of which represents six months worth of severance pay.

Faulkner, who had been with the city since 1989, recently began working as the new city clerk for nearby Fairburn.

At the time of the settlement, Faulkner said it did not prevent her from talking about issues arising from her employment with the city. The settlement, which was signed by Faulkner and Mayor Bob Lenox, requires both Faulkner and the city to abandon any potential claim either side might have.

Currently, the city clerk's duties have been split between Basinger and city employees Gloria Reid, Jane Miller and Betsy Tyler.

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