Chatham County commissioners clash over transit transparency

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Some tense moments erupted at Friday’s Chatham County Commission meeting as commissioners clashed over transparency regarding the county’s relationship with Chatham Area Transit (CAT).

The dispute came to a head after District 4 Commissioner Pat Farrell introduced a motion calling for a discussion about the county’s dealings with CAT, which he believes would add needed transparency to the situation.

The motion failed 5–3, but Farrell later attempted to make a statement during public forum time that was cut off by Commission Chairman Chester Ellis.

“You cannot discuss it. You cannot discuss it because your fellow commissioners said no,” Ellis said.

“I am wanting to use the public forum to speak about an issue that’s important to the public,” said Farrell.

“What’s keeping this foolishness going on is folks doing things that are outside of the perimeter of what should be happening,” said Ellis.

The confrontation grew out of a controversy that has simmered for weeks. Ellis sent a letter seeking to terminate the county’s relationship with CAT, prompting pushback from several commissioners. Commissioners Farrell and Dean Kicklighter initially objected to the letter being sent.

“I had no clue a letter like that was going out without a private service in place to assure the citizens that they would be served,” said Kicklighter on Nov. 21.

Ellis said the opposition from some commissioners stemmed from misinformation that was later clarified.

“We straightened that out,” he said.

Farrell remains unconvinced, and pressed county leadership about why the county has not filled its three seats on the CAT board.

“How do you wait 5 months and do nothing,” he asked.

Farrell also asked that the termination letter to CAT be rescinded. Ellis said that will not happen unless the state legislature makes changes to the CAT board’s structure — changes that Democratic State Senator Derek Mallow has said he will pursue.

Mallow announced Thursday that he would work on four changes to the CAT board. As of Friday, the county and CAT board have not exchanged direct communications. According to Ellis, all contact has been routed through attorneys because of ongoing litigation.

If Mallow’s proposed changes are adopted by the state legislature, Ellis said the termination letter to CAT would be rescinded and the litigation would end.

If the legislature does not act, Ellis has previously said he would be willing to create a new transit system to replace CAT.

“If that’s what it takes that’s what it takes,” Ellis said.

Mallow’s proposed changes are expected to be presented to the state board as early as January. Until then, the dispute over CAT — and the tensions it has caused among commissioners — are likely to continue.

WTOC will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more details become available.