Former Tifton City Manager resigns, paid salary through March 2025 following termination “without cause”
TIFTON, Ga. – According to our news partners at the Tifton Grapevine, the Tifton City Council voted Thursday night to accept the immediate resignation of the former city manager Emily Beeman.
A settlement agreement has been reached between the city and Beeman. The city is saying it is paying her as if she had been terminated “without cause,” and is required and will pay her salary through March 5th, 2025. This includes reimbursing her insurance costs through that date as well as any accrued vacation.
In the settlement, Beeman was asked to acknowledge that the “City exceeds the value of consideration the city was already obligated to provide.”
In return, Beeman, as well as the city, release one another from any charges, claims, or legal actions. Beeman also “Waives any charges of age discrimination that she may have against the city.”
The settlement also states that nothing in the agreement and no actions taken “Shall be construed as an admission by any party of any wrongdoing or liability.”
The agreement notes that Beeman “Understands that this release specifically waives all of her rights and claims arising under the age discrimination in employment act … And the older workers benefit protection act.”
However, 35-year-old Beeman is not protected under age discrimination laws, as Georgia and the united states only protect workers who are 40-years-old and above.
City Attorney Rob Wilmot later confirmed that the agreement was indeed public information under the Georgia Open Records Act.
Beeman signed the agreement Thursday, and the city council accepted it.
After council accepted Beeman’s resignation Thursday night, Mayor Smith said, “We wish her nothing but success in her endeavors.”
By: Frank Sayles, Jr., Tifton Grapevine
Copyright 2024 CBS 44 South Georgia. All rights reserved.
