At the end of the last Walton County Commissioner meeting, Commissioner Scott Brannon asked to have Suzanne Harris removed from the TDC Board. In an email sent to WZEP, Harris says, “This is most likely the reason Scott wanted me off the TDC.”
Harris is referring to a court request for a Plaintiff’s for Contempt and Show Cause Order filed February 9[SUP]th[/SUP]. In the complaint, Harris says Brannon conducted county business from a personal computer. The complaint says Brannon maintains a computer in his office separate from the county equipment. The complaint also notes an order that the commissioners only use their official email accounts to conduct county business. This after a previous court action over public disclosure.
In the court paper, Harris says she believes Brannon maintains the computer and uses it to conduct county business through personnel email in violation of the court order. She says Brannon has demonstrated a lack of compliance with the court’s previous order.
The complaint and an email copy released shows emails between Brannon and others discussing county business through emails with an
aol.com email address. This would not be the official county email address. It is unknown if Brannon also copied the emails to his county address for record keeping. Harris’ complaint states the previous court order requires only the county email to be used.
During the commissioner meeting, Brannon said he has received comments from others who have questioned why Harris was still on the county’s TDC Board. Brannon asked to have her removed. He stated there is a clear violation of the TDC Board’s Code of Conduct. Brannon is also the TDC Chairman.
As the BCC Chairman, Brannon passed the gavel and made a motion to immediately remove Harris from the TDC Council based on her opposition to the commission and what he says is a violation of the code of conduct. With an ethics complaint against commissioner Larry Jones by Harris, he excused himself from the discussion.
The commissioners discussed the motion and questioned if they were asking Harris to step down or asking that she be removed. They questioned if a vote was needed. The attorney said a vote was needed to remove Harris. The commissioners voted to appoint people to the TDC Board. Eventually Brannon said his motion was clear, he was asking for Harris’ removal. The motion carried 4-0.
