A scathing state comptroller report criticizing Smithville Mayor Jimmy Poss for hiring his son has been released on the heels of indictments rendered by the grand jury charging the Poss’ with theft.
The report from the Comptroller of Treasury came out just a day after Poss and his son, Anthony Poss were arrested on felony charges of theft over $2,500. The mayor was charged with an additional count of official misconduct. The Poss’ are to be in court Aug. 6 for arraignment which is coincidentally the same day of the next meeting of the board of mayor and aldermen. At that point Mayor Poss will either be a lame duck, with less than a month to serve as mayor or he will appear as the newly reelected mayor, according to results of Thursday’s election.
In the report, issued by Justin P. Wilson, Comptroller of the Treasury, investigators list several areas where Mayor Poss with awry of best practices in his handling of hiring his son. Specifically, the report pointed out that the mayor hired his son to a part-time salaried position at a weekly salary of $300, meaning he made $8,100 over six months.
“Mayor Poss failed to obtained board approval prior to creating the new job and prior to hiring his son to fill that position, as required by city policy and charter,” the report reads, noting Anthony Poss was not required to fill out an application for employment as required.
The Comptroller revealed Mayor Poss claimed to investigators that he was not required to bring part-time workers to the board for aldermanic review, something the report said is false since it is clearly spelled out in the charter.
Along with violating hiring policy, the Comptroller said Mayor Poss was found to be in violation of the city’s nepotism policy.
“Immediate family members of city officials, the mayor and department heads shall not be employed by the city unless a clear business reason exists and the hire is approved by the mayor,” the city charter reads.
As well as violations of city policy, the Comptroller was disturbed the by the lack of accountability in the hire of the mayor’s son.
The Comptroller revealed Mayor Poss told investigators that his son’s job was to ensure irrigation boxes at the city golf course were maintained to prevent freezing and that the city pool was kept at an adequate water level.
“The investigation revealed both tasks described by the mayor were already being performed by the public works department and a city contractor,” the Comptroller’s report reads. “Also, although the mayor supervised his son’s employment with the city, he did not require him to maintain time and attendance records for the work he performed.”
The mayor admitted to investigators he did not keep up with his son’s hours, noting Anthony was paid for the job not the hours worked. Anthony Poss refused to speak with investigators about the allegations.
The results of the Comptroller report was handed over to the district attorney who took the case before the grand jury last week and, following a probe by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, obtained the felony indictments against the Poss’.