Milledgeville manager won't appeal ethics report

Milledgeville's city manager says he won't appeal an ethics report that says he should be reprimanded, censured or asked to resign.

In an email Wednesday, Barry Jarrett wrote that he strongly disagreed with that report, but "It is in the best interest of the citizens of Milledgeville for this long and contentious proceeding to end now."

City officials debated Jarrett's future since last June. That's when he was captured on tape urging council members to punish a bank president who'd written a critical letter to the editor.

On the tape, Jarrett said, "What's wrong with retaliation? That's the way you do business." The council later voted to pull $5 million out of the Century Bank & Trust.

Last month, special master Patrick Longan wrote that Jarrett acted against the public's best interest. He said Jarrett violated the code that says 'All public funds shall be used for the general welfare of the people and not for personal economic gain.'

But city members said Jarrett had 22 days to appeal Longan's findings and they wouldn't take any action until that deadline expired. The deadline for appealing the report was Wednesday.

Jarrett's email says, "Although I strongly disagree with the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Special Master in the recent ethics case, I have decided not to appeal his decision. In my opinion, In my many years of service to the City of Milledgeville, I have always strived to do what is best for the City and its citizens and it is in this spirit that I decided not to pursue an appeal."

Jarrett has worked for the city since 1988. He has earlier declined comment on the matter.