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SERVING DEKALB, FULTON, GWINNETT, HENRY AND ROCKDALE COUNTIES
VOLUME 20 NUMBER 13
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GPTC expands transportation training facility in Lithonia ....page 8
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JUNE 28, 2014
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DeKalb Interim CEO cracks down on county “P cards,” freebies
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eKalb Interim CEO Lee May has signed an executive order that clarifies ethics rules for all Administration employees and announced Interim DeKalb CEO that he plans Lee May to create a fulltime watchdog position that will report to the DeKalb County Board of Ethics. The measures come as four DeKalb County commissioners face ethics investigations over the use of their county charge cards known as “P cards.” Commissioners Elaine Boyer, Larry Johnson, Sharon Barnes
Sutton and Stan Watson all are under investigation. In addition, news sources say Watson has been named in a corruption case in South Carolina involving a kickback scheme. Watson, however, maintains his innocence. He has not been indicted in the case. Meanwhile, May is pushing to hire a Chief Integrity Officer and two other positions to support the position. “This will be our full-time Ethics Watchdog, but he or she won’t report to me. He or she won’t report to the BOC (Board of Commissioners). Our Ethics Watchdog will report directly to the Board of Ethics who are standing with me today,” said Interim CEO May. The Chief Integrity Officer will be responsible for training all county employees, fielding tips about unethical behavior and monitoring an ethics hotline. The Chief Integrity
Officer will have the unilateral power and responsibility to bring all ethics concerns directly to the attention to the Ethics Board, without having to wait for a citizen complaint. “I firmly believe in due process, and allowing the issues that have already been brought to the table to run their legal course,” said May. “Having said that, it’s the improper and possibly illegal activity in DeKalb’s ranks that we don’t know about that keeps me awake at night.” May said he plans to also hire a support staff for the position by adding an investigator and an administrative assistant. He said the cost for the three-member team should run around $300,000 annually. John Ernst, chairman of the DeKalb Board of Ethics, said it’s time for the county to take action.
“It’s become quite clear that the time for talk is over and the time for action is now,” said Ernst. “The bottom line is that it takes significant resources to hire investigators, gather the necessary information, get to the bottom of these complaints, take action, and potentially remove DeKalb County employees.” May also activated a new ethics policy for all administration employees. The new policy compiles ethics guidelines found in the Organizational Act as it pertains to merit system employees, is now applicable to all employees under the supervision of the CEO. Specific guidelines as it pertains to gifts, meals, travel, tickets and See P cards, page 6
Photos by Joshua Smith/OCG News
Magician Ken Scott brings science fun to Conyers library See Magic, page 10
Photo by Joshua Smith/OCG News
As family members of Derryl Simmons continue to morn, attorney Robert Bozeman (right) says his law firm will continue to fight for the family in their suit.
Sanitation worker’s family sues over fatal accident By Joshua Smith
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ith tears slowly rolling down her face, Louise Simmons told news reporters how she lost her husband, Derryl Simmons, after the sanitation truck he was riding in flipped over several times and ejected him on Interstate 75. “They (City of Atlanta) just don’t know how this tragedy has changed the lives of so many people in our family. We will never be the same without my Derryl,” said Simmons, who is employed with Atlanta’s Public Works Department. “My husband was a great man, a loving, caring and kind man. A brother, uncle is no longer with us because of this horrible tragedy. The city hasn’t given me any answers regarding this case. All we want is the truth. We deserve justice for my husband.” Between the two of them, the Simmons have 51 years of service with the department. On Nov. 2, 2013, Simmons’
husband, who worked for the department for 23 years, was killed when the garbage truck that he was the passenger in, flipped several times before ejecting him on Interstate 75 near Cleveland Avenue. The driver, Melvin Callahan, who lost control of the city vehicle, was charged with vehicular homicide in the first degree, driving under the influence, reckless driving and failure to maintain lane. A half-empty bottle of Pinnacle vodka was found at the scene by investigators and lawyers from The Davis Bozeman law firm say Callahan’s alcohol blood level was more than three times the legal limit when he lost control of the vehicle. Derryl Simmons’ blood count was zero percent. “Mr. Simmons was doing nothing wrong. He doesn’t choose the driver. All he can do is ride with the crew his supervisor tells him to go with. It’s the City of Atlanta’s responsibility to secure the safety of all employees,” said attorney Robert Bozeman. “It’s
quite disturbing. How does the city allow a driver to drive a vehicle, to take other employees lives into their own hands and how does an employee believe that it is ok to be that drunk and drive a city vehicle?” Police said Callahan was driving southbound on I-75 when he missed his exit and tried to change lanes quickly. Simmons died at the scene. Callahan was seriously injured and taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. City of Atlanta Attorney Kathy Hampton said the city will release a statement concerning this accident in the next coming days and is currently conducting an internal investigation. “Our own internal investigation will help us determine the appropriate course of action,” said Hampton. “The lawsuit may have been filed, but it hasn’t been served to us yet. When it comes across our desk, we can comment more and will release statements to the community.” Bozeman said the City of Atlanta should receive the suit no later than Monday, June 30.