Waycross has impaneled its Citizen Board of Ethics a second time this year to consider a complaint filed against Commissioner Katrena Felder.
The five-person board was selected by a random draw of names Monday, September 15 during the Waycross City Commission’s planning and information session. The panel consists of Dr. Earl Martin, Lorene Regulus, Shawn Taylor, Albert Bussey and Martin Gray with Felicia Brown and Tim Peacock serving as alternates.
They will consider the complaint filed September 3 by citizen Clayton Nelson regarding credit card charges by Felder during a trip to Atlanta for city business. A similar complaint was filed in May by the Rev. Fer-rell Malone, Sr., against the District 3 representative questioning the same trip.
The board selected May 21 to hear that complaint which was dismissed June 3 after Malone decided to withdraw the action in a letter to the commission dated May 31.
Acting City Attorney Huey Spearman said the new board would undergo training as part of its 30 days to investigate the complaint and decide its merit before a dismissal or continuation. That training session will be at 5 p.m. today (Wednesday, September 25) in City Hall.
If the complaint is deemed to have merit, the panel then has 30 days to conduct a hearing in order to render a decision.
The complainant has a right to appeal to city commissioners if not satisfied with the board’s decision, Spearman said.
The pool for the selected board members came from two nominations by each of the four sitting commissioners as well as Mayor Michael-Angelo James.
Creation of the panel was a necessity in order to meet the City Charter’s window of 15 working days from the date the complaint was filed, Spearman said.
Felder asked if it was a conflict should either or both of the two nominees by the target of the complaint be on the panel to hear the action. Spearman said that alone doesn’t present a conflict should either or both be chosen.
Nominees for the pool of candidates serve up to two years and can be reappointed. A new board is chosen each time a complaint is filed.
One of those nominated in May — Dr. Jené E. Walker — was ineligible to be selected to hear this complaint. Dr. Walker is a candidate for the vacant District 1 seat on the commission.
Since the November 5 election falls within the window for the board’s work on the complaint, Dr. Walker could be sitting in judgment of a fellow commissioner if elected, Spearman said.
