AMERICUS, Ga. (AP) - Leaders of a South Georgia city upheld a decision to fire their city manager over allegations of sexual harassment and other inappropriate behavior.
The city council of Americus rejected an appeal by former City Manager Charles Coney after a three-hour hearing Thursday. The council had fired Coney in February after a law firm investigated complaints by city employees, WALB-TV reported.
Coney denied sexual harrassment claims against him and his attorney argued his race had been a factor in his firing. Coney is Black, as are a majority of Americus council members. Attorneys for the city said any claims of racial bias were baseless, noting Coney was fired by the same city council that hired him.
The former city manager did not speak during his own appeal hearing, which had been postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak.
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