Citywide Services Director Jimmy Templeton made some mistakes in not disclosing he had family members who worked for a firm that had a contract with the city, City Attorney Mike McMahan said this morning.
But none of the mistakes that technically violated the Chattanooga City Code are “egregious,” he said.
“I found no evidence that any action or inaction had harmed the city,” McMahan wrote in a memorandum to the City Council.
McMahan sent the City Council a four-page letter this morning after his office conducted an investigation of Templeton. An audit report released two months ago stated that Mr. Templeton was directly involved in the bidding of contracts with Enviromental Materials LLC, Chattanooga Transfer LLC and City Disposal LLC. The report stated that three of his family members worked for the companies.
All three companies are owned by Ray Marler.
McMahan’s report states that there was only one instance where Templeton was directly involved in a contract. But he stated in the memo there were also several checks and balances in place within the city to make sure there would be no improper bidding.
The report stated the Department of Public Works is now arranging for a “work-around” of any contracts so Templeton will have no chance of future involvement with any of the contracts.
For more information, read tomorrow’s edition of the Times Free Press.
Cliff has worked for the Times Free Press for five years and covers Chattanooga city government. He previously covered Rhea County, as well as transportation and growth and development in Southeast Tennessee. A native of Maryville, Tenn., Cliff graduated in 2003 from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis on journalism. Before coming to Chattanooga, he was a crime reporter with Hernando Today, a supplement of The Tampa (Fla.) ...
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