COHUTTA, Ga. (WDEF) – A new controversy is coming to light in the Town of Cohutta, Georgia.
City employees have filed a formal complaint alleging that Mayor Ron Shinnick’s wife, Pam Shinnick, has continued performing town duties after being terminated from her role as town clerk.
According to employees, Pam Shinnick was terminated earlier this year but has allegedly remained involved in town operations.
“Still conducting business so far. Payroll, checks, dealing with records, building permits, anything that you would have normally done,” said Sergeant Steven Thornton.
Employees say concerns have been raised about her continued access to town records and internal processes.
Detective Jeremy May with the Cohutta Police Department said the termination followed an executive session meeting.
“Once they came out of executive session, it was determined that the town clerk was to be terminated for cause within the next week or ten days after that. She was allowed a three-day grace period to come back and train others, but from that time on, she has been back in the office doing her job as clerk even though she was terminated,” May said.
According to council meeting minutes, Pam Shinnick was terminated on January 13 on the grounds of creating a hostile work environment.
May also said the transition created payroll issues for employees.
“When she was terminated, the weeks following, city employees, including all the police officers, were not able to get their regular paychecks on time because they claim she was the only one who was allowed to sign paychecks. So they went about a week or more without having a paycheck.”
Thornton further alleged that although she is no longer employed, Pam Shinnick still had access to private employee information and confidential town records.
He recalled a specific moment two weeks ago when he went to the mayor for official business.
“He hollered to Pam, and he said to give me the check. She said, ‘Well, it’s only got one signature.’ He said, ‘That’ll be okay, go ahead and sign it.’ She signed it in front of me, and that went to Carroll’s Automotive, and she’s terminated.”
Chief Greg Fowler said he is listening to concerns from all sides and wants a fair process moving forward.
“In anything, in this police department, in any government, everything needs to be transparent. People have the right to see,” Fowler said.
The town’s attorney, Brian Rayburn, sent News 12 a statement saying, in part, that the town has received the letters and plans to review the allegations but has no further comment at this time.
Attorney’s Statement:
“The Town of Cohutta (“the Town”) recently received signed letters from several members of the Cohutta Police Department raising allegations against the Town and its employees and officials. The Town takes these allegations seriously. The Town, including the Mayor and Town Council, plan to meet to review allegations raised in the letters. At this time, the Town has no further comment as to the allegations or the validity of the same.”
Detective May also told News 12 he was ordered by the town attorney to have no contact with town officials after requesting evidence be preserved for possible civil action.
He claims all communication must now go through the attorney.
According to Sergeant Thornton, after the mayor told the assistant town clerk not to come in to work anymore, he says it was later stated that she was told to return the following day.
News 12 will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
See signed formal complaint below:
