County Commissioners will receive first cost of living increase since 2010
News December 19, 2021FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – With the inflation rate soaring to 6.2 percent, the highest in more than three decades, and consumer prices skyrocketing, County Commissioners agreed to give themselves an $8,000 increase in their annual base salary Thursday.
The Board voted 4-0, with Commissioner Molly Cooper absent, to direct County Attorney Ken Jarrard to draft a resolution for their approval during the first meeting of the New Year. The pay raise does not impact the commissioners benefit package.
Commissioner’s base salary is currently $34,900 annually. District 3 Commissioner Todd Levent explained that commissioners have not had a cost of living allowance (COLA) since 2010. “If we had received the same inflationary increases that our employees have, we would have a base salary of $51,000 now. We raised the base by $8,000 which is halfway between where we are now and where would have been had we received the annual cost of living increases. ”
While it was not on the agenda, Commissioner Laura Semanson initiated a discussion of term limits for county commissioners. She and Commissioner Alfred John support term limits. Levent and Chairwoman Cindy Jones Mills do not. Both are in their third term on the Board.
“I’m going to talk about term limits every time we talk about increasing our salaries,” Semanson said.
Jones Mills argued, “I feel like the voters should determine who stays in and who stays out. We cheat our voters by starting over too quickly. Just because we as a Board disagree with voters doesn’t mean they are wrong.”
John said he does not know what the limit should be on a person holding the office of county commissioner, but did say, “I don’t believe someone should be in elected office – a career politician – for 20-30 years.”
Anti-CRT fervor heating up in Forsyth County
News June 7, 2021FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Parents of Forsyth County students are mad as hell and they say they are not going to take it anymore.
The popular website Concerned Parents of Forsyth County Georgia exploded with negative comments about the Forsyth County Board of Education following the Board’s May meeting.
School officials claim that the school system “does not and will not teach nor promote Critical Race Theory (CRT).” Parents say that statement is deceptive because one component of the schools’ strategic plan, adopted in 2017, is Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, which a number of education experts have said is another name for CRT.
The school website states the strategic plan was developed “working in partnership with Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement (GLISI),” a strong advocate for CRT.
Conservative radio talk show host Erick Erickson says “GLISI has embraced systemic racism as a problem and that “equity” is needed as a cure. You can say it is not critical theory, but the whole concept is actively derived from critical theory.”
Forsyth County Commissioner Laura Ohnsman Semanson agreed. “A big part of this is semantics,” she posted. Whether or not they are “teaching” CRT if strictly interpreted can be explained away through giving the program a different name, but when the actual programming from the provider (GLISI) is examined (regardless of its name) it is deeply rooted in CRT principles. Further, one could argue it’s not being “taught” because those being instructed in the material are the educators themselves.”
Jenny Clark posted a question: “How much has this “partnership” with the GLISI cost the Forsyth County taxpayers?”
Several posters want to know what the Board is hiding. Mendy Parker Moore posted, “Looks like the teacher training platform is no longer accessible. Of course they’re covering their tracks. Not surprised but it’s very discouraging that they don’t value transparency.”
Again, Commissioner Semanson agreed. “I am not at all surprised. In the past they have failed to produce preliminary maps and related work product related to redistricting (which many believe to be highly political).”
Meg Braskett added, “A few more links I scrolled through that have been posted on here have been scrubbed from the site too…so frustrating and disappointing.”
Some posters like Tamara Bourque Sclafani and Tiffany Hall Donofrio expressed a desire to “vote (Board of Education members) out or have them recalled.”
The anger and resentment parents feel toward the Board of Education does not appear to be going away any time soon.
Danielle Reneman, who spoke at the May meeting, posted, “It’s time to get organized for the next BOE meeting!”
Beth Tipton stated, “Folks need to now turn that energy and determination into constructive strategy and action.”
Margie Robinson Carroll encouraged parents to join local school councils which she said are forming now. “You should know who they are and how they will speak for you when at the “round table”. Seems we are missing a voice at these tables at our individual schools as well! Time to get more involved with your children’s education and future. ”
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Levent ethics hearing scheduled Monday
News February 27, 2021FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – An ethics complaint that has consumed 10 months and cost Forsyth County taxpayers nearly $200,000 in legal fees could finally, mercifully, be decided by a Forsyth County Ethics Board Monday (Feb. 28).
The Board will meet at 9 a.m. in the Commissioners Meeting Room in the County Administration Building, 110 East Main Street.
District 3 Commissioner Todd Levent is the target of the complaint which alleges he accessed Commissioner Cindy Mills email account without filing an Open Records Request.
Last May, commissioners authorized an outside agency to investigate Levent at a cost not to exceed $20,000. In August they voted 3-0 (Commissioners Levent and Mills recused) to censure him. Two weeks later, they voted to spend an unlimited amount of taxpayer dollars to hire a law firm to bring their complaint before the Ethics Board. As of December, the price tag had reached more than $180,000.
But the investigation revealed Levent did file an Open Records Request when he asked Carolyn Haag, an administrative aid to the commissioners, to retrieve the emails for him. Ga. OCGA 50-18-71 clearly points out that an Open Records Request may be made orally or in writing. The same emails can be retrieved by any citizen.
In announcing Levent’s censure, Commissioner Semanson (then Chairwoman) accused him of “obtaining un-redacted lists of current emails.” Georgia law does permit some limited redactions in response to an ORR, however it is government’s responsibility to redact the information where permitted.
Levent has said he did nothing wrong and that the investigation is a political vendetta.
He will be represented by attorney Daran Burns.