Chastain violates ethics?

Post 1 commissioner Will Beattie read aloud a document in the regular called Thursday, December 9, 2010, Board of Commissioners meeting alleging a violation of the ethics in a government act filed by former post 2 commissioner candidate Randy Bell.

The allegations posted below are verbatim:State Ethics Commission
200 Piedmont Avenue
Suite 1402 – West Tower
Atlanta, Georgia 30334

ALLEGING A VIOLATION OF THE ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT ACT

Person Bringing Complaint:
Randy J. Bell
2662 Camp Branch Rd.
Ellijay, Ga., Gilmer County, 30540
770 833 1194

Party Against Whom Complaint Is Brought:
Mark E. Chastain
1 Westside Square
Ellijay, Ga., Gilmer County, 30540
706 635 4362
Chairman, Gilmer County Board of Commissioners

Statement of Facts:

1. As Chairman of the Gilmer County Board of Commissioners, Mark E. Chastain knew of, agreed with, and aided employees in manipulating contracts and invoices for the purpose of avoiding the $20,000 limit in the Gilmer County Charter thus evading the bid process and approval of the entire Board of Commissioners as required by the Gilmer County Charter.( See exhibit A)

2. As Chairman of the Gilmer County Board of Commissioners, Mark E. Chastain directed then personal employee and also County surveyor Scott Chastain to survey County owned property. The County was billed by Scott Chastain, County Surveyor, who then paid Chastain & Assoc ( owned by Mark E. Chastain) most of the proceeds. It appears that Mark E. Chastain was directly profiting from work he commissioned on behalf of the County. (See exhibit B).

3. As Chairman of the Gilmer County Board of Commissioners Mark E. Chastain has repeatedly violated the Gilmer County Charter and his oath of office by spending more than the $20,000 allowed bypassing the required bid process and approval of the full Board of Commissioners in defiance of the advice of the County Attorney. Please see exhibit C for a partial listing and supporting documentation.

4. As Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Mark E. Chastain has spent app. $1,015,557 for renovating the Gilmer County Civic Center. The full Board of Commissioners voted to authorize just $473,000. This not only violates the County Charter, but State Law as well since it went more than $100,000 over the authorized amount.

See complete BOC post for more information.