WHY DID CITY MANAGER DICKERSON CUT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER MAYOR SMITH OUT OF PRIVATE UNAUTHORIZED EMAIL NEGOTIATIONS SHE HAD WITH C.W. MATTHEWS, THAT WAS CONTRARY TO WHAT SHE INFORMED THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL?
Watkinsville code 2.30 reads that the mayor is the chief executive officer of the City of Watkinsville, and signs all contracts executed by the city. This duty includes supervision over all executive and administrative work of the city.
On June 24, 2020, Mayor and Council awarded C.W. Matthews Contracting Company the resurfacing project not-to-exceed the $47,163 quote.
On July 22, 2020 City Manager Dickerson reported the Council made the decision to use C.W. Matthews on a report presented to the Council on June 25, 2020. It states that Mayor Smith was not involved in the contract selection. She also reiterated that the FY20 LMIG Resurfacing Projects was a fixed amount not-to-exceed $47,163.
On September 18, 2020 City Manager Dickerson informed the Mayor and Council that the C.W. Matthews would began work on September the 28th.
Within 22 days of beginning the project, October the 20th, Dickerson sent an email to the Mayor and City Council commenting..."I am asking that tomorrow night's agenda be amended...The invoice is $4,500 higher than the estimate...".
Mr. Mark Bartlett with C.W. Matthews Contracting Company was asked why the cost had increased since it was specifically stated by the Mayor and Council the contract was a fixed price. Mr. Bartlett on June 2th had exchange emails with Dickerson that their quote was not a lump sum (fixed) price; that their quote was an estimate. This was 22 days prior to the Mayor and Council signing the contract for a fixed price.
In a June 26th email, Dickerson responded to Mr. Bartlett, “Understood. We have some flexibility with funding, if it is needed, so please proceed with scheduling the work." Did Dickerson have the authority to make that promise. This was 2 days after the Council signed a not-to-exceed contract price. Guess those pieces of silver was worth $4,500.
Did Dickerson exceed her authority by making a verbal email contract with C.W. Matthews that [she] was flexible with funding on a not-to-exceed contract. Why didn’t Dickerson inform the Mayor and Council that the quote C.W. Matthews gave on June 2 was an estimation prior to signing the contract as a not-to-exceed on June 24.
Why does a nonelected City Manager, having taken no loyalty oath with the City, have so much unfettered discretion in writing checks and moving millions of City revenues including SPLOST from bank to bank. Well, the bottom line is then Councilman Pro Tem Brian Brodrick, now Mayor and Mayor candidate, did help create the position, hire Dickerson because of “her good work,” and then give her all that authority… the Mayor’s authority this is.
My real concern is Dickerson seemed to be acting as Watkinsville’s Chief Executive Officer when she made a behind closed door email negotiation that undermined Mayor Smith’s contracting authority. This does not include Dickerson withholding pertinent information from the City Council on a City contract that undermined the Council.
Bottom line, City Manager Dickerson has a problem with the truth, and her behavior demands she be fired. Dickerson is a liability the City of Watkinsville can no longer afford.
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