The financial standing of Atlantic Beach was a point of contention between two town leaders during the town council meeting this week.
Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn Cole and councilmember Jake Evans engaged in a heated exchange over the town’s financial status during Monday’s town council meeting when Evans, who was elected as mayor in November before a protest hearing threw out the election results, said that it is unclear exactly how much money the town has in its general fund.
Cole said an audit is being performed on the town’s finances and a more clear picture will be provided at the February council meeting.
Evans said the problem began when he was removed from signing town checks last July. Cole and interim Town Manager Benny Webb took over those duties and the town’s financial picture has been unclear since, he said.
“I’ve had no idea and nobody does,” Evans said of the town’s financial standing during the meeting. “The only people that know are Carolyn Cole and Benny Webb.”
Webb nor Cole could be reached for comment Tuesday.
In other business during Monday’s meeting, Webb, who took over the position last July, submitted a letter of resignation to the council, but a split vote by the council kept the resignation from being approved.
Cole and council member Windy Price voted to approve Webb’s resignation, but Pierce and Evans voted against it leaving the measure one vote shy of passing.
Webb did not elaborate on why he planned to resign and continued to serve as the town’s manager during the meeting.
Evans also asked Webb about the status of council member Donnell Thompson, town attorney Carolyn Hill and town Election Commissioner Delayne Miller.
Webb said Thompson and Hill have submitted letters of resignation, though no vote was taken to approve their resignations.
Webb said the status of Miller is unknown, though Evans said he believes there is more to the story.
“Did she quit? Is she fired? Someone needs to say something because somebody knows something,” Evans said.
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