FORT VALLEY, Ga. — The City of Fort Valley will be without a city administrator as of 5 p.m. Friday.
The mayor and city council reached a decision about Jonathan Harris after weeks of discussion. Marsha Gosier said the council made the right decision.
"Decided to explore options that would be more beneficial, would be more productive, and would be more of a positive stance as far the city administrator position," Gosier said.
That's how some community members feel now that Harris has officially been removed as interim city administrator.
Council voted 4-3 to part ways after Harris was on the job for less than a month. Council Member Carla Gowen read the following motion before the vote.
"The City of Fort Valley does hereby terminate between the City of Fort Valley and Jonathan Harris, interim city administrator, as of 5 pm Friday April 5 2024," Gowden read.
Thursday marked the second meeting all for the city administrator position. Harris was the subject of most of the conversations.
Council waited to vote on his employment until they had a background check. Fulton County Superior Court records show Harris was convicted of impersonating an officer and simple battery in 2016.
He then served six months at Central State Prison for a probation violation, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections.
After the council voted to terminate Harris, they immediately motioned to hire someone else at the meeting. Without a background check or resume, council member Gowen read the next motion.
"The City of Fort Valley does hire Marcus Agostino as the interim city administrator as of 5pm Friday April 5th, 2024," Gowen read.
Agostino said he wasn't expecting that.
"I was actually kinda surprised. I figured that wouldn't be coming up until they fully vetted me. Then they would be voting on something like that," Agostino said.
The motion was denied after Gowen was the only one to raise her hand in support. Mayor Jeffery Lundy announced he'd fill the seat in the meantime.
"I am interjecting by executive power to sit in the seat as the mayor of the city," Lundy said.
Now, council will wait 24 hours for a list of candidates chosen by the city attorney and the Georgia Municipal Association.
At the end of the day, Gosier said the meeting's result is appreciated and better represents Fort Valley.
"Today we showed that we are about black excellence, not black negligence," Gosier said.
Harris announced during the meeting he plans to seek legal action. He claims sealed documents were used during the executive session.
Harris told 13WMAZ he's been working for the city for weeks, and has not received a paycheck despite his claims that council approached him to come to Fort Valley.
The mayor said it's likely there will be more meetings about city personnel.