The efforts to recall Union City Mayor Ralph Moore and Councilwoman Angelette Mealing saw another twist this week as questions surfaced over city expenditures that might have involved the Mealing-sponsored Union City Athletic Association (UCAA). The city maintains the expenditures were appropriate and lawful while Councilwoman Alisa King and recall organizer Retina Dawson-Young said they are a direct violation of city ordinances and the equivalent of theft.
Union City has paid a total of $1,049.50 to date to local vendor Ink Sense for signs, posters and stickers on behalf of UCAA, as suggested in information provided by King and obtained through the city finance office. An additional invoice for $440 from Ink Sense for signs and stickers is expected for payment, records indicated.
A breakdown of city expenditures in the records showed $530 paid for signs and posters on April 18 and $129.50 paid on May 16 for signs for recreation meetings. The April 18 expenditure was approved by former city administrator Terrell Jacobs out of the city contingency fund while the May 16 expenditure was paid out of the city’s administrator’s budget as a public relations expense. And on June 6 an expenditure for $390 was paid to Ink Sense for kick-off signs and stickers. The payment was approved by interim city administrator Ken Collins from the city administrator’s budget as a public relations expense after it had been initially approved by Jacobs, Collins said. An additional invoice for $440 to pay for stickers and signs from the same vendor was reported in early July, though that invoice has not been received by city hall, records showed. In total, the expenditures on behalf of UCAA total $1,489.50, King and Dawson-Young said.
Collins said Wednesday the expenditures were appropriate, noting that the expenditures for signs and posters in April and May were for advertising upcoming town hall meetings to get residents’ input on community recreations needs. The need to form UCAA came out of those meetings, Collins said. The June expenditure and the bill from July did involve UCAA, Collins said, but those expenditures were appropriate since the city had paid a portion of the expense when YMCA had previously held similar meetings, Collins said.
Attempts to contact Jacobs in Douglas were unsuccessful.
The incorporation of UCAA, according to Georgia Secretary of State, was effective May 31. A corporation search on the state website lists the board of directors for the non-profit. Those include Anthony Brodie, Marion Brown, Sandra Brittain, Jomal Davies, Councilwoman Angelette Mealing, city Planning Commissioner Vince Williams and Camilla Moore, wife of Mayor Ralph Moore. The non-profit corporation is set up to provide charitable, athletic and educational activities and venues for youth and adults, according to the Articles of Incorporation.
One of those questioning Mealing’s leadership role in UCAA and the city expenditures that benefitted the corporation was Councilwoman Alisa King.
“We have proof that Ms. Mealing has spent taxpayers monies on her organization’s advertisements. She spent money prior to the organization being established and (prior to) a resolution coming forth to council and after the council voted not the fund the organization,” King said July 20. “We the citizens of Union City are asking for council member Mealing to repay this money to the city, otherwise it is considered stealing.”
Dawson-Young said earlier in the week that the expenditures were plainly inappropriate, especially since the city was paying UCAA’s bills before the organization was ever incorporated. The citizens saw the signs and flyers that included the UCAA logo, she said.
“I can’t go as a private business, profit or non-profit, and ask to have the city pay for my advertising,” Dawson-Young said. “No matter what is being said, money paid by the city was wrong. This is Councilwoman Mealing’s private initiative being funded and it’s a conflict of interest and a violation according to city ordinances.”