Dougherty County Commission launches search for new county administrator

ALBANY – Dougherty County will start the search for a new county administrator, but the 4-3 vote, along with the discussion that preceded it, showed that county commissioners are divided on the topic of executive leadership in the county.

The vote, taken during a special called meeting on Monday, sets in motion the process of finding a permanent replacement for former Administrator Michael McCoy, who was fired in a series of 4-3 votes in 2023 that saw the same alignment of commissioners in the vote tallies.

Commissioners Victor Edwards, Gloria Gaines and Clinton Johnson were joined by Commission Chairman Lorenzo Heard voted in approving the expenditure of $38,000 to enlist the services of Colin Baenziger & Associates, based in Daytona, Fla., to conduct the search. Those same commissioners made up the majority in the three votes to oust McCoy.

Earlier this month, Albany attorney Maurice King filed a lawsuit on McCoy’s behalf against the four as individuals and as members of the commission.

A vote to hire the company for the search failed last week with a 3-3 tie in the absence of Edwards.

During the Monday meeting, Heard disputed an assertion made Monday and last week by Commissioner Russell Gray that due to the lawsuit, the county would not be able to attract qualified applicants. Gray also said the vote violated the “spirit” of a recent board retreat during which the board discussed working to be more cohesive.

“I think you’re grasping at straws,” Heard said. “I don’t think that’s true. Everyone of you said ‘let’s move forward.’ That’s why the county attorney started moving forward. You should have said that in the middle of December when we instructed the county attorney to move forward.”

In the lawsuit, McCoy is asking for reinstatement as county administrator as well as monetary damages of at least $5 million.

With the possibility that McCoy could be victorious in the legal case, Gray said that hiring a new administrator prior to the disposition of the lawsuit could have negative financial repercussions.

“Lastly, I want to (emphasize) the oath each of us took to be fiduciary stewards,” he said. “(It’s) not only not in the spirit of the ‘we’ we discussed at the retreat, it also is not in line with our fiduciary duties. Let’s wait until the environment is good.

“I think we can make sure that candidates apply by getting over some of the litigious landscape we find ourselves in.”

The board also did not have a discussion regarding the various merits of the three companies that were interviewed prior to the recommendation for approval of Colin Baenziger & Associates, Gray said.

Johnson countered that the representative who was in the interview for the company gave assurances that a pool of qualified candidates can be found.

“(He) has done a lot of research in Dougherty County and had a lot of good things to say,” Johnson said. “This time of year, after the political landscape changes, there are (a) lot of people out there, and he had no problem finding candidates.”

Gaines said she is confident that there is someone out there who would be a good fit and who could “make us a 21st-century governing body.”

“There are people out there who could help lead our county,” she said. “Over the years, we’ve seen our county’s economic indicators get a little bit worse and a little bit worse. So we “need to look for that one person who recognizes these challenges and is willing to take that on.”

During the work session that preceded the special called meeting, Heard presented a proclamation celebrating Black History Month and the historical legacy of black leadership in the county.

Several current and former elected officials were on hand for the presentation that recognized former Commissioners George Brown, James Bush, Juanita Cribb, Robert Cross, Brenda Robinson Cutler, Don Cutler, Muarlean Edwards, William Hall, John Hayes and Harry James.

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]