Brookhaven to Mediate With Suspended City Manager on Wednesday

(Image: City of Brookhaven)

BROOKHAVEN, GA -- The city of Brookhaven’s relationship with its controversial -- and suspended -- city manager may come to an end on Wednesday.

Or it may not.

The city council will enter mediation with Marie Garrett in an attempt to come to contract terms. Garrett was suspended this past Tuesday by newly elected Mayor John Ernst and by a unanimous vote from the city council. The following day, the council voted to enter mediation with Garrett on Jan. 20.

If the council and Garrett are unable to reach an agreement, the city could be looking at expensive litigation with Garrett, Georgia’s highest-paid city manager at the time of her suspension.

Besides her salary of $214,000, Garrett has been a lightening rod of criticism since she became the city’s full-time manager in 2013. The city has seen tremendous employee turnover during its short time as a municipality, including multiple communications and parks and recreation managers.