My wife and I purchased our home on North Avenue in late 2009 because we believed that despite a deep recession, Ellijay had all the ingredients to become a significant tourist destination as well as a place for local residents to shop and dine. Since that time, we’ve spent a considerable amount of our money beautifying our residential property. We have invested along with others many volunteer hours working to enhance downtown Ellijay through beautification projects and other volunteer time. Six months ago, I was asked to volunteer on the Better Hometown Economic Revitalization Committee. This committee which is comprised of several Gilmer County residents has been developing ideas to revitalize the economic strength of downtown Ellijay. The City is fortunate to have attracted to serve on this committee so many diverse and talented people to work together for a more prosperous Ellijay. It’s very concerning to me that at the past three Better Hometown Board meetings which I attended, the City Manager was not present. At one of the meetings on June 16th, I was embarrassed as a resident of the City and a taxpayer, when Beverly Walter, the City of Zebulon Downtown Development Authority Representative presented a detailed Power Point presentation on the merits of forming a Downtown Development Authority and the Ellijay City Manager wasn’t present. Does his absence indicate that the City Manager is not interested in the betterment of the city he’s been hired to represent? In a day of financial chaos, in a City where unemployment is rampant and retail space vacancy is increasing at an alarming rate, the City of Ellijay deserves a City Manager who exercises good judgment.

As a taxpayer in the City of Ellijay, I have another concern. I have heard several concerned citizens and business owners in the community question whether the City Manager is fulfilling the required number of hours to satisfy full-time employment with the City. According to the website, which lists the City Manager as a band member, the online calendar http://littleroyandlizzy.com of events shows forty-nine (49) concerts performed nationwide from January 1st to July 10th, 2011 with forty-nine (49) additional concerts planned for the balance of 2011 or 98 total concerts. Of these concerts in 2011, forty-nine (49) are scheduled during the workweek of Monday through Friday. If the City Manager attended only half of the forty-nine (49) concerts scheduled during the workweek, how could he fulfill his responsibility as City Manager? At the very least, his involvement as an active member* of this bluegrass band creates a distraction in fulfilling his duties and responsibilities and in supervising subordinate staff as City Manager.
(* See http://vimeo.com/22004077)

I am requesting as a taxpayer and resident of the City of Ellijay that the City Council investigate and review the City Manager’s attendance record for the past year to determine if the City Manager has been compensated for time of absence above and beyond the City’s normal sick and vacation time policy. If the City Manager is found to be remiss in his duties, the City Council should take appropriate action to ensure that taxpayer’s funds are not being improperly used. Furthermore, if not already written in the City Manager’s job description, the City Manager should be required to attend all major intercity Committee and Board Meetings in order to promote goodwill among those who serve and to foster an enthusiastic environment where creative ideas can flourish. The City Manager is employed by the City Council. It is the duty of the City Council to supervise the administration of its employee and to correct any dereliction in his performance.

Ellijay deserves a City Manager that can focus his energy on our beautiful city. Thank you for the opportunity to speak.

Sincerely,

Brian Linkous
75 North Avenue