BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
The Tallassee City Council is turning over months of allegations regarding city officials to an independent state law enforcement agency for further investigation. If that investigation reveals that crimes were committed by the so far unnamed officials, the council members have agreed to take further action.
That is the easiest explanation for a vote Tuesday night that came out of council member reports. But learning an “official” explanation of what those allegations are is not so easy to pin down.
There are lots of allegations, but none of them have been verified by city council members. Over the past several months the council has had multiple executive sessions concerning “the good name and character” of unnamed employees.
Mayor Johnny Hammock was not present for the meeting Tuesday night, as he is attending a conference out of town.
Mayor Pro Tem Bill Godwin, in council reports, brought up a memo that will be distributed to all city employees about acceptable behavior in the workplace. He also spoke of the resolution by the council concerning allegations of misconduct.
“I have a memo from the Tallassee City Council dated Nov. 9, 2021 – To all city of Tallassee employees and elected and appointed officials. The reference is Workplace Behavior. The purpose of this memorandum is to remind all city officials and employees of what is and what is not acceptable behavior in the workplace.’”
The memo was signed by all council members and will be distributed to City Hall tomorrow and then to city employees.
Continuing, Godwin said, “There have been allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing made against certain city officials and employees of the City of Tallassee while acting in their official or employment capacities. And, while the Tallassee City Council has investigated and taken appropriate and necessary action regarding several referenced allegations on wrongdoings, there still remains allegations of this conduct and wrongdoings that have not been resolved. Therefore the Tallassee City Council, by formal resolution, hereby requests that the above referenced matters be investigated by the appropriate law enforcement agency or agencies of the state of Alabama and that based on the results of the investigation that whatever action that may be appropriate be pursued.” A copy of the Resolution was signed and approved by all City Council members.
Godwin asked City Attorney John Smith to immediately take the necessary steps to process this resolution to the appropriate law enforcement agency or agencies for action as deemed necessary.
In talking with people close to and within city hall they say that tension has been high for several months. We are told by these sources that they fear for their jobs if they speak to media on the record, but multiple sources tell us they want something done. After the meeting tonight, there was a sense of relief that steps are being taken, they said.
Social media has been a field day for “alleged” misbehavior with leaked emails among city officials, and a video of a speeding car through neighborhoods, allegedly the wife of a high-ranking city official, reportedly harassing city employees.
One item that has been discussed by Council members is that Mayor Johnny Hammock purchased a truck for the Utilities Department while he still held the title of Superintendent of Utilities. The truck was to be used for his personal use in his duties for the city at that time. However, he apparently did not have the proper authorization from the Council to do so. The truck has sat in the parking lot of city hall since that time. Whether or not this item is included in the multiple investigations is not clear.
Mayor Hammock talked about the purchase of the truck in a September meeting of the council.
In that September 14 meeting, Mayor Hammock addressed the purchase of the Silverado for his use as Superintendent of Utilities, but stressed, “I have yet to drive it.” The purchase price was $31,000 of city funds.
In the September meeting the mayor told council members that he had formerly been driving a city-owned Durango, but that vehicle was given to Code Enforcement. From there he began driving his personal vehicle, and received mileage checks at 56.5 cents per mile.
He told the council that he drives more on behalf of the city than any other employee.
In that meeting he said that he believed he had been told by city officials to purchase a truck for his use “Unless I misunderstood.” There were no comments from council members at that time. We have not been able to locate any official authorization by council members to grant Hammock permission to spend city funds on the vehicle.
At the end of that meeting in September, the Council recessed into executive session to “discuss the good name and character of several employees.” Whether or not the truck purchase was brought up in that discussion is unknown.
After another executive session last month to discuss “the good name and character” of an unnamed employee, the Council returned and removed Hammock as Supt. Of Utilities, amounting to a major cut in his salary.
The Council also recently voted to surplus the new vehicle and sale it at auction as it does not suit the needs of any departments.
The Council voted to cancel the next meeting due to Thanksgiving, unless an urgent situation arises.
We have requested an official copy of the memo concerning appropriate behavior, and the formal resolution regarding allegations of misconduct.
We have reached out to officials for comments regarding all of these issues, but on the advice of the city attorney they have so far declined.
