Attorney to conduct Barrow's internal investigation

Posted by
Susan Norman
in Winder Archives
Monday, November 9. 2009
Comments (10)
A Cartersville attorney will conduct Barrow County’s internal investigation into claims by HR Director Norma Jean Brown that someone in a position of power within the county government has violated county, state and federal employment statutes.

David G. Archer of Archer & Lovell, P.C. will be paid $250 per hour to “investigate allegations that employment policies and/or ordinances of Barrow County, and/or federal and/or state laws have been violated,” according to the Nov. 9 agreement that was distributed to area media by Bob Hohe, the county’s operations development manager.

The agreement with Archer does not set a deadline for the completion of the investigation but states the attorney will conduct interviews and submit a written report “as expeditiously as possible.”

And the document does not set a limit on the cost of Archer’s investigation, saying only that he will update Hohe "from time to time."

The Barrow County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 27 voted unanimously to hire an investigator to look into “serious allegations” it had received.

The HR director later acknowledged that she had alerted the board to her concerns the previous weekend and had independently hired an Atlanta employment attorney to represent her and other county employees.

Her complaint was about alleged racial and gender discrimination and about alleged wage-hour violations.
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#1 Anonymous on 11/09/09 at 06:47 PM [Reply]
Major billable hours. Love the blank check mentality. What the hell .. it's not coming out of their pockets -- just the tax payers or rather those of us who actually pay our taxes.
#2 anonymous on 11/10/09 at 05:51 AM [Reply]
Once again the impact of inflated egos and lack of administrative skills in a very litigious society. I'm sure the leadership and their advisors are wondering what went wrong.
#3 MKR on 11/10/09 at 09:45 AM [Reply]
Wow...$250 per hour. I'm sure the clock starts when they leave their office in CARTERSVILLE...

Surely there is someone closer that conduct this investigation. How about putting a cap on their expense? This company is going to stick it the tax payers of Barrow County. Thanks a lot Danny. You're something else...
#3.1 MKR on 11/10/09 at 10:16 AM [Reply]
Again, not me. Seriously, what do you think you're doing? Use "anonymous" or some weak insult for a name like all the others do.
#3.2 Anonymous on 11/10/09 at 10:21 AM [Reply]
Actually you want someone from OUTSIDE the county to investigate. $250.00 an hour is the going rate, but I do question the fact that no cap was set on his spending. A contract of $250.00 per hour up to $20,000 (80 hrs) would have been better. If by chance it takes longer than 80 hours to "interview" and "write" a report, then it would have to be approved by the BOC.
#3.2.1 MKR on 11/10/09 at 03:35 PM [Reply]
I agree that it should be someone from outside the county, but Catersville is a bit much. From a fiscal standpoint, $20,000 is a lot of money this county just doesn't have. I would also guess that 80 hours is just getting started. I'm betting it will be more than that.
#3.2.1.1 MKR on 11/10/09 at 03:42 PM [Reply]
I've been posting with my initials (MKR) since the day this paper opened with the same e-mail address. If you (the moderator reading this) have no interest in preventing impersonation, I have no interest in your paper.

Have fun with your extremist echo chamber.
#3.2.1.1.1 growupdude on 11/10/09 at 05:47 PM [Reply]
To the ranter MKR - do you think that you are the only person in this entire county/world with the initials MKR?
Were you required to set a login ID and a Password to post on this site? NO! How can someone "impersonate" you when you aren't required these two things? Grow up and move on. NEXT!
#4 Non Citizen on 11/10/09 at 07:33 PM [Reply]
Well, this is another reason I am glad I don't live in Barrow. Wow, when will it's citizens finally have enough and say NO MORE!!! I am amazed at this commission board and it's HR director.
#5 Knows the score on 11/11/09 at 08:53 PM [Reply]
If this lawyer wants answers he should also interview former employees, directors and elected officials.
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