Tempers flared and at one point a citizen was told he could not comment during a public hearing last Wednesday, September 2, to discuss McCaysville’s 2020-’21 budget.
Rodney Patterson was told by Councilman Jason Woody to “sit there and don’t mention anything,” after Patterson had suggested selling the city’s house at the Toccoa River Park and using the money to pay for police officers.
Woody, who was attending the meeting by cell phone, told Patterson, “we’re not taking public comments.”
This came after an exchange when Councilwoman Gilita Carter told Patterson, “everything can’t go to the police department.”
Patterson had offered his suggestion as the need for a second police officer on night shift had dominated the first part of the public hearing.
Mayor Thomas Seabolt had opened the floor for public comments after the meeting started, and as advertisements for the hearing stated, “the Mayor and Council will receive public comments about the annual operating budget.”
Police Chief Michael Earley had initiated the discussion when he brought up the need for a second officer on night shift. The police force was reduced to one officer under city council orders.
Earley stressed how one officer working alone is not safe and referred to two recent incidents. One involved a fight an officer was involved in (see related story) with a suspect and the other when an SKS rifle was taken off a suspect.
Earley said other McCaysville officers come out, on their own time, and back each other up when they can.
Councilman Larry Collis asked, referencing a lack of pay, “How is it legal to do that?”
Earley responded that he is trying to give officers comp (compensatory) time, but that is hard to do because it creates overtime for the other full-time officers, and he has been told no overtime is allowed.
Carter told Earley there was money for part-time officers in his budget and he should find some to fill second position on night shift.
There is $40,000 in the budget for part-time employees and $15,000 budgeted for overtime. Earley had asked if he could use that money to hire a full-time officer.
Earley said, “It’s hard to find part-time officers.” He told how he has just lost three part-time officers, two who had new positions elsewhere and one who is working toward retirement.
Earley asked if he could increase the pay for the part-time position from $14.19 per hour to $15.00 per hour to attract candidates, and still stay within the $40,000 budget.
Carter asked if he had talked to people who think the $14.19 is too low.
Earley explained that in some jurisdictions detention officers make more money.
At this point, Seabolt said the council should approve a full-time officer for second shift and re-hire one of the two officers laid off. Patrolman Gary Holloway and Investigator Billy Brackett were laid off by the council when they cut the police department’s budget.
Seabolt also said Earley should work day shift, and part-time officers should be hired to fill in as needed.
Carter challenged Seabolt saying the council did what the mayor wanted when they laid off the two officers.
More words were exchanged, and the meeting was adjourned.
The council was scheduled to vote on the budget at its regular meeting Tuesday, September 8.