STOCKBRIDGE, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
The Stockbridge City Council has launched an investigation after the mayor accused Municipal Court of tampering with tickets.
The council has also censured Mayor Lee Stuart for allegedly harassing employees.
"He has followed behind them when they've been on city business and watched them working (while) hiding," said Councilman Richard Steinberg. "The mayor has actively engaged in harassment of employees, belittlement of employees, threats, innuendos, allegations."
Mark Alarcon, who heads the council, said "multiple employees were being harassed with ‘you're not qualified, you're not professional.'"
The council censured Stuart at its Monday-night meeting, the same night the mayor accused the court of wrongdoing.
Council members said they were skeptical of Stuart's claims because he has not offered any evidence to support his allegation.
Stuart would not disclose how many tickets were allegedly altered or over what period of time the tampering may have taken place.
"Thus far, even though he stated he had evidence, he has not presented it at this time," Alarcon said.
Steinberg said that Stuart has a credibility problem.
"Often times the mayor makes allegations about different things and has yet to offer affirmative proof," Steinberg said. "In this case, I have to go with what my intuition tells me and say there's nothing about the allegations that will be held true."
Both councilmen said they believed court employees would be cleared of any wrongdoing.
Stuart's accusation and the council's censure followed what council members characterized as a bizarre request by the mayor.
"He asked (court employees) to barricade windows and put up concrete blocks immediately," to guard against snipers Steinberg said, a claim Stuart denied.
When asked if the city has ever had a problem with snipers, Steinberg answered "we have not had one to date."
CBS Atlanta went to Stuart's home to ask him the tough questions.
When asked if he threatened employees, Stuart responded, "no comment."
CBS Atlanta asked Stuart to reveal his evidence of ticket fixing. Stuart replied "I can't say until the investigation is done."
When asked if he instructed employees to put up barricades, Stuart answered "not employees here."
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Stockbridge mayor and city council (Source: cityofstockbridge.com)
