EAST POINT, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
There's more trouble for East Point mayor Earnestine Pittman after an ethics violations hearing claims she broke the city's charter and the law.
The hearing's officer says Pittman created a conflict of interest when she sued her own city over utility rate hikes in November of last year.
Though Pittman filed the suit as a resident of the city, the hearing officer detailed in a seven-page statement there was a "palpable conflict of interest." The report continued saying, "Pittman could not be an advocate for the city and herself in the lawsuit because clear conflicts of interests stood in her way."
The findings also show Pittman tried to get taxpayers to foot thousands in legal fees for that lawsuit.
"There's $14,000 that's outstanding that currently we as taxpayers of the city of East Point are paying," said Constanze Eckstein who filed an ethics complaint against Pittman.
The findings also say Pittman violated the city charter when she attempted to keep then city manager Crandall Jones from receiving his severance package after the city council fired him.
Monday's ethics findings said, "The law simply did not allow the mayor to make such a hair-splitting veto."
Just last Friday, residents filed their own lawsuit in Fulton County courts to have mayor Pittman removed - they say Monday's ethics board findings only strengthen their case.
"We just feel like it reinforces and that it, unlike what the mayor says, this is not a frivolous lawsuit," said plaintiff Barbara Collins.
Mayor Pittman avoided answering any questions Monday night: She just walked away from CBS Atlanta News reporter Steve Kiggins.
Now it's up the city council to come up with sanctions for Pittman - it's too soon to tell when that might happen.
Copyright 2012 WGCL-TV (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.
