‘No action’ taken, Jarrett continues as Milledgeville city manager

MILLEDGEVILLE, GEORGIA (41NBC/WMGT) – After a closed work session meeting, Milledgeville City Council members, and Mayor Richard Bentley say Barry Jarrett will continue to serve as the City Manager.

“No action” says Bentley, “…will be taken at this time.”

Jarrett faced scrutiny after his remarks on a secret audio recording made by District Four Councilman Walter Reynolds exposed his and other council members’ comments on possible retaliation efforts.  

During the meeting, supporters clapped after the Mayor made the announcement.

One concerned citizen-who did not want to go on camera-says she worried Jarrett would loose his position, and she knows “he’s a good man.”

Councilwoman, Denese Shinholster agrees.

“It has no reflection on the job that Mr. Jarrett has done for this city.”

Mayor Richard Bentley says the issue Reynolds taped the board without consent and the content of the recording is embarrassing to the board.

He adds during the meeting, he gave the board options when deciding the fate of Jarrett’s job.

“There’s a number of things they could have chosen to do and one of those was to do nothing.”

And that’s exactly what they did.

“I think that something should be done. I don’t believe that the goal was to fire Barry,” Reynolds says by catching the council members voices on tape, “The goal was to try to restore public trust.”

But in the midst of Reynolds’ actions, Shinholster says her trust has been betrayed.

“This brought about a new feeling among the entire council, because now we always have to stop and think as to whether you’re recording this or not,” says Shinholster.

See previous article.