FORT VALLEY, Ga. — Fort Valley settled a seven month appeal after council members voted to bring back a terminated city employee.
The previously-fired city clerk, Diane Brown, is getting reinstated. In Thursday's council meeting, council members approved Brown's return in a four-to-two vote.
"I'm glad to be able to say we got the resolve that benefited the city, but also that's restoring her back into the position because she was doing her job, effective and efficient." Fort Valley Mayor Lundy said when acknowledging his council's decision.
He said the city attorney advised their council to re-hire Brown.
In April, former interim city administrator Jonathan Harris opted to fire Brown, while on his way out of office. In Brown's absence, Lundy said the seat remained empty but employees are cross-trained to share the workload.
"Everybody have had to step up, had to make sure that we are still doing the things that citizens expect us to do. One of the things I always say is all service deliverables," Lundy said.
Lundy says the council is looking to remove the interim tag off of the city administrator job and staff the role permanently; the position is currently held by Gary Lee.
"We needed to hire a city administrator, so we reached out to Middle Georgia Regional Commission to do the vetting that to do all aspects of that," he said.
He said he wants Fort Valley residents to remain confident in their elected officials despite the year of changes.
"Every day I come here motivated to do the best job that I can for all the citizens of Fort Valley, Peach County and the employees also," Lundy said.
Brown does not have to be sworn in; she'll sign her contract again and be welcomed with back pay and benefits, Lundy told 13MWAZ. He says starting next week, finalists for the city administrator position will go before council members for interviews.