Barrow County Commission Chairman Danny Yearwood this week denied telling other county officials not to allow their employees to speak to the media and to start charging reporters for all contacts, including interviews, that are longer than 15 minutes.
Multiple sources at Yearwood’s called meeting June 2 told the Barrow Journal that in addition to directing elected officials and department heads to tell their employees not to talk to reporters, Yearwood told them to limit their own interviews to 15 minutes and told them to charge for any media contacts exceeding that.
Asked Monday if that correctly described his new policy, Yearwood responded in an e-mail, “No it does not.”
He added: “Let me first say I did not exclude anyone from talking with the media, however, questions should be asked of a director not to someone who works under the director.”
He said all requests for public records would require the submission of written open-records requests and that “the County will abide by the law.”
Under Georgia Law, public agencies can charge for time to respond to open records requests that exceeds 15 minutes, but that does not apply to interviews with public officials.
UNOFFICIAL AUDIO RECORDING
Yearwood noted in his e-mail that it was Human Resources Director Norma Jean Brown who had talked about the specifics of the Georgia Open Records Act during the June 2 meeting.
“Norma Jean was the one quoting all the laws not me so contact her if you want more information,” he wrote.
Stung by recent public criticism of her comments, Brown said last week that she could prove exactly what was said.
Asked if she had recorded the meeting, she said she had, because she thought the meeting was being called to discuss the budget and she wanted to make sure she conveyed the information accurately to her staff.
At the Barrow Journal’s request, Brown provided a CD of the audio. Since the county did not record the meeting, it is the only documentation of what was actually said during the meeting. The recording confirms much of what sources told this newspaper last week.
For more on this story, see the June 16 edition of the Barrow Journal or click here to sign up for a free trial of our new e-edition. Offer ends July 13.
Great Job NJB on recording this. Keep that little device very handy and record it all for us.
You have good people running but yet the citizens insist on voting for the bad seed.
Remember that when you go to the polls next month.
Basically we are stuck with him for another 18 months.
Choose wisely next month at the elections. Look at who's running for commissioners and ask yourself .... do we REALLY want (need) this person in office?
Who will do what's best for the county? Not who has the most money behind them.
Last election, we voted for change and got Yearwood. Where did that get us as a county?
Don't vote the incumbents out just to be voting incumbents out. That's what got us Yearwood!!!!
Look at the candidates and their personal agendas.
Why do they want to be commissioners?
What do they stand to gain?
Do they (or family) own property that just happens to be in line for development?
Do they have the builders/developers in their back pocket?
What did they do prior to running for office?
Who's funding their campaigns?
Candidates have to disclose where their funds are coming from. Stop by the elections office and do an open records request. Might surprise you.
Ask yourself: can we really afford to go back another 20 years? If we vote in the ex-sheriff (aka, Robinson), that is exactly what we are doing.
The facts prove that Clark is only in the race due to self-serving reasons to sell property. He tried last election and failed. Barrow County cannot afford anymore self-serving officials anymore.
Vote wisely and do not judge the incumbents on Danny Yearwood's record.
We're talking a few politicians -- not an atom bomb.
Trust me, Barrow county will still be after a gap-toothed commissar and a SWAT-loving sheriff have vanished from the scene.
When you have a local government who is embroiled in numerous lawsuits ranging from rezone denials to EEOC, it's a MAJOR distraction.
Let's say a company is looking to relocate. They are looking at two different counties. The only difference in the two is one has a governing body that works together and no lawsuits pending; the other has numerous suits and infighting among the board. Which county do you think the business will chose?
For those who are thinking of voting for Robinson... go to the forum that's being held in Auburn. Try and talk to the man ..... his lights are on, but no-one is home!