Stone Mountain Mayor Beverly Jones has found herself in the center of a controversy involving the city's bank accounts. Amidst a city council investigation, Jones defended her decision to become the sole signatory, stating at a news conference that her actions were taken with the city's best interest at heart. According to Atlanta News First, Jones was attempting to resolve concerns raised by Truist Bank over former employees who still had access and a potential cyber issue impacting the account.
During the conference, Jones stated, "What kind of mayor would I be if I stood by and let someone go in the bank and write a check on us?" Her intent, she claimed, was to remove only the former employees from the signature card. This defense is in light of allegations that Jones had removed two active employees and two councilmembers from the account, effectively leaving herself as the only authorized signer, as reported by FOX5 Atlanta.
In the wake of these events, the Stone Mountain City Council convened last Friday, directing the city attorney to begin drafting an ordinance that could outline procedures for removing elected officials. The council has since reinstated the two current employees and themselves as authorized signatories. At a council meeting where tempers flared, calls for a forensic audit were vocalized by residents demanding greater financial transparency before any considerations of a millage rate increase.
While Mayor Jones refrained from answering questions at a subsequent press conference due to a potential lawsuit, residents remain skeptical of the financial stewardship within their municipality. One speaker told the council, "We would like to know where our money’s going. Before you ask for a penny more," as noted by FOX5 Atlanta. This sentiment of fiscal accountability has rippled through the community as details of potential irregularities surface, and as the city ponders a tax increase.
The next steps for this unfolding narrative hinge on the formal investigation announced by the City Council. Amidst the turmoil, Mayor Jones has reiterated her stance that her actions were meant as a protective measure for the city's finances.
