PEARSON, Ga. (WALB) — The Pearson Senior Center is operating with volunteers after all three employees resigned, but Mayor Jason Joyner said the facility will remain open and continue services.

Joyner said former director Dawn Garcia approached him about a month ago after being offered a position with the city of Willacoochee at nearly 40% to 50% more pay.

“She asked me about it. And I said, you know, ‘if that’s what you want, I mean, that’s a good deal,’” Joyner said. “We would never be able to get close to that, especially in the next year or two.”

Joyner said he told Garcia he would support her decision 100 percent, but that the city could not match the pay increase.

Garcia told Joyner two weeks ago, on a Monday, that Willacoochee had voted to hire her the previous week. She asked if Pearson could increase her pay, but Joyner said the city could not afford it.

>> READ MORE: Residents say Pearson senior center changes were not what was promised amid director’s departure <<

“I just, me looking at numbers, there was no way to increase her pay no more,” Joyner said. “We just could not increase it.”

Joyner said he did not blame Garcia for taking the position.

“It was a good, it’s a good position,” Joyner said. “I wish we could increase her pay, but there’s no funds to do it.”

Remaining staff also resigned

The two remaining employees also resigned after Garcia’s departure. Joyner said he was told the employees were staying.

Joyner said he called one of the employees, who told him she was on a three-day work schedule and needed four days or she would not stay. The city could not increase the hours due to budget constraints, Joyner said.

“It goes back again, I couldn’t increase the money,” Joyner said. “So, she decided to resign.”

The other employees later called and resigned as well, Joyner said.

Despite the staffing changes, Joyner said volunteers helped continue scheduled activities. The center held a movie day recently, with about 11 seniors attending the theater.

“I’ve got volunteers that’s going to help me get me through this till we get a director, you know, found to hire that we can afford,” Joyner said. “And at the time, we can really afford.”

The center will be open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week with volunteers running activities, Joyner said. He said the center is going to be kept going like it should be.

Lock changes and budget concerns

Joyner said he changed the locks at the senior center after the employees resigned without returning their keys. He said he also changed locks at City Hall following the same protocol.

“You got employees that resigned, and no key was returned in,” Joyner said. “Protocol is, about any business owner would have done it, and any city person would have done this too, you’d change the door locks.”

Joyner said he had only one key to the facility besides City Hall keys for the back door when all three employees resigned without returning keys.

“I really didn’t see where that was out of the ordinary, and what’s that a big deal?” Joyner said. “I mean, nobody needs to go down there.”

Community members have alleged that the center’s annual operating costs have been overstated. Joyner said the projected budget of $110,000 to $120,000 includes multiple expenses beyond just payroll.

Payroll with taxes accounts for a little over half of the budget, Joyner said. He said he based projections on historical utility bills.

Joyner said December electricity bills were around $1,500 to $2,000, while early-year bills were around $800 to $900. He said he projected electricity costs at $8,000 to $10,000 annually based on those numbers.

Recent months have seen electricity bills drop to $350 to $400 after Joyner instructed staff to adjust the air conditioning higher or drop the heat down when leaving in the evening and turn it up when arriving, he said.

“I’ve noticed that’s a big difference in the light bill,” Joyner said.

The budget also includes internet service, food and other expenses, Joyner said. He said he has a projected budget in his office based on those calculations and last year’s spending numbers.

“When you’re adding that stuff up, it gets up there,” Joyner said.

Financial challenges facing the city

Joyner said the city is facing significant financial constraints that prevented pay increases at the senior center. He said the city will need to borrow money to get through the year due to unpaid bills from the previous administration.

The city had to pay about $90,000 to $100,000 for last year’s insurance premiums that were not paid, Joyner said. A program was started at the end of last year, but the city had to finish paying it, he said.

“So, we’re running $100,000 short there in your budget already, plus other bills that was not paid last year,” Joyner said.

Joyner said the city has had to pay bills from last year on a daily basis. He said he went to buy a part for the treatment plant but could not because someone spent $50,000 last September and did not pay the bill.

“I’m trying to figure out how to make this work the best I can,” Joyner said. “And I’m having to fix some stuff that should have been really a little bit more oversight.”

Joyner said he deals with EPA reports on a daily basis and that issues go back two years that were overlooked and not addressed.

“I know there’s probably nobody that wants to take their check and give it to us and help us pay for that either,” Joyner said. “We cannot give more money than we financially have.”

Joyner said he wished council members had provided more oversight in previous years.

“I wish they would have been feeling this way years ago when the previous mayor got us in this position,” Joyner said. “I really wish they would have kind of spoke out and done that then, instead of everybody being so quiet.”

He said if council members had been more involved in the past, the city probably would not be in its current financial situation.

Response to council criticism

Joyner addressed allegations from a council member that he has gone rogue and does not consult the council before making decisions.

“Well, like I say, phone calls work both ways,” Joyner said. “As far as I know, I’ve had a cell phone number for years.”

Joyner said he tries to reach out to some council members, though he does not always get support. He said he does talk to some members.

“At the end of the day... when it comes to financials—that’s my job, is to control the financials,” Joyner said. “And when I make that decision on having to really cut back, you just have to do it.”

Joyner said the situation flared up because he would not give more money that the city does not have.

“I’m always looking forward to work with my council,” Joyner said. “I support them, everything. But like I said... We still understand my side of the story also.”

Joyner said he believes the city is getting close to revealing more information so people can see the financial situation. He did not clarify what exactly that meant any further.

Water infrastructure project

Joyner said a USDA-funded water line replacement project affecting about 30% of the city should start in the next month or two. The project will replace 80-to-90-year-old water lines and improve water infrastructure.

He said the city is finishing up a few things and the construction lawyer has to complete some work before the project can begin.

Joyner said he made a decision to have the city employ the project inspector directly rather than contracting the work. The inspector position had a price tag of more than $300,000, he said.

Joyner said he spoke with the engineering firm and they agreed to put a different number in the project. The city of Pearson will employ the inspector and furnish a vehicle, with the inspector’s pay coming out of the loan, he said.

“It’s going to save the taxpayer about $150,000 at the end of the loan,” Joyner said. “And I look at over the time—$150,000—you’ve got to save every dime you can.”

Joyner said he makes decisions looking at long-term savings for taxpayers.

“I’d rather save $150,000 than give it to somebody else,” Joyner said. “So that’s things like, I make decisions like that and look at things, trying to save every dime we can.”

In a previous statement, council members told WALB that Garcia’s position was not voted on by the council and expressed that they wished they had been given the opportunity to weigh in on the matter.

This is a developing story and will be updated as additional information becomes available.

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