Levent ethics hearing set December 14

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – The outcome of a seven-months’ ethics investigation that will cost Forsyth County taxpayers close to $200,000 will be decided Monday, Dec. 14 at 10 a.m. when the county’s ethics panel meets in the Board of Commissioners Meeting Room, 110 Main Street.

The investigation of District 3 Commissioner Todd Levent — which commissioners initially agreed should cost no more than $20,000 – was conducted by the law firm of Smith, Gambrell and Russell. The current cost is $168,000 with December’s invoice still outstanding.

The Board has accused Levent of accessing Commissioner Cindy Mills’ taxpayer-funded email account without her permission. Levent made a verbal request for Administrative Assistant Carol Haag to retrieve the emails for him, which she did. Commissioners contend that Levent did not file an Open Records Request for the emails. However, under Georgia Open Records Act § 50.18.70 requests may be made verbally as well as in written form.